Asoka

Asoka (about 264-223 BC), king of an empire covering almost all India.

At first Asoka extended his empire by war. Then he became a Buddhist and a man of peace.

In his empire he called for kindness to men and animals. He asked people to stop eating meat, and he provided free medicine for the poor.

Under Asoka, Buddhism spread to all parts of India. He sent Buddhist priests to Ceylon and it too became a Buddhist country.

He also sent priests into eastern kingdoms of the Greek Empire, and taught people there the religion.

Because of Asoka, Buddhism became a world-wide religion, EMIL LENGYEL Asoka the Great (Watts 1969).