Maurya Empire, India · c. 268-232 BC

Ashoka: the emperor who regretted his war

After a bloody conquest of Kalinga, the emperor Ashoka carved his regret into stone and promised to rule by kindness. Students read his edicts on the map, follow Buddhism as it spreads from his empire and judge whether he deserves the title "the Great".

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
11–14
On the map
3 steps, 240 BC to 247 BC
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

After a bloody conquest of Kalinga, the emperor Ashoka carved his regret into stone and promised to rule by kindness. Students read his edicts on the map, follow Buddhism as it spreads from his empire and judge whether he deserves the title "the Great".

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Describe how the Kalinga war changed the way Ashoka ruled.
  • Explain what Ashoka's edicts were, where they stood and what they said.
  • Judge whether Ashoka deserves the title "the Great", using evidence from both sides.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

240 BC

The empire at its height

Open the map in 240 BC. The Mauryan Empire covers most of the subcontinent. Which part of the far south is not inside it?

Open this view on the map
b

260 BC

A change of heart

Set the year to 260 BC. Turn on Historical Events and click "Ashoka Embraces Buddhism" on the east coast. Read it. What made Ashoka change?

Open this view on the map
c

247 BC

Buddhism travels

Turn on Spreads and choose Buddhism. Watch Taxila and Anuradhapura light up around 250 BC. Which member of Ashoka's family took Buddhism to the island in the south?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. Ashoka carved his regret about the Kalinga war into stone. Why would an emperor admit to causing suffering?
  2. He promised to rule by dhamma: kindness, tolerance and fair treatment. Can a ruler with a big army truly rule by kindness?
  3. He had wells dug, trees planted and care given to people and animals along the roads. Why are such projects also good politics?
  4. Ashoka kept his army and warned rebels that he could still punish them. Does this change your view of him?
  5. India put Ashoka's lions and wheel on its emblem and flag. Why might a modern country choose an ancient symbol?
4

Game round

10 min

Play Akbar in Rule History. Like Ashoka, he was an Indian emperor famous for tolerating all religions, about 1,800 years later. After the round, compare: what did both emperors do to hold together a land of many peoples and faiths?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

€19 per month unlocks every worksheet, every live lesson and the class workspace. The free lesson prints without a subscription.