Asoka: Ruthless Conqueror Or Enlightened Ruler Asoka an indian ruler was more of an enlightened ruler like a nice person than an ruthless conqueror like hammurabi who killed a lot of people. There is a lot of evidence for why Asoka is an enlightened ruler. Some evidence is where he expanded his land. Also, how nice or mean Asoka was. Then finally, what his religion is.
Instead, he would use the rules of reciprocity to make sure that people would respect him. Archaeologically there is no evidence that these leaders lived in higher luxury than anyone else, but they did have a more lavish burial than anyone
The journey of Mansa Musa was not just a religious venture, but a trek to meet new people and gain publicity for Mali. Although Mansa Musa 's journey was supposed to be a religious venture, there were other motivating factors that led to his trek through Africa. The journey of Mansa Musa was strongly enforced and targeted to get more people to travel to Mali. " He left no court emor nor holder of a royal office without the gift of a load of gold".(document e)
But was Ashoka an enlightened ruler or was he ruthless? He was enlightened because he regretted all the violence that he did when he was younger and he created an empire based on Buddhist values (Frey p.163). Regretted his Violence Ashoka was an enlightened leader because he regretted his mistakes. He taught his sons and grandsons to use Dharma not war.
Asoka was the ruler of the Mauryan Empire, which consisted of almost all of India, from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. Once he conquered Kalinga, Asoka felt guilty and sought to find a guru to find enlightenment. After sitting beneath the Bodhi tree, Asoka emerged as a more fulfilling leader. Throughout his life, he proved himself to be an enlightened ruler by converting to Buddhism, creating the Asokan edicts, giving gifts to the poor, and devotedly improving his empire.
Born as an orphan, he was raised by the chiefs of Hawaii, kamehameha grew up to be a strong warrior. He was able to unify by going to battle and conquering island after island. He was an effective leader because he enforced the kapu system, increasing trade and the resources that came to the hawaiian islands. These characteristics made Kamehameha an effective leader. Kamehameha was an effective leader because he made a better life for his people.
The Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized the use of reason and individualism. It was mostly influenced by Descartes, Locke, and Newton. The idea of enlightened absolutism valued reason rather than faith. Enlightened monarchs had total control but embraced rationality. Being an enlightened ruler meant allowing religious tolerance, freedom of speech, and the right to hold private property.
How Great Was Alexander the Great? Alexander the Great was the son of Phillip II who was assassinated after conquering the Greeks. Alexander became king at the age of 20 and right away began to expand. He began by crushing a Greek revolt in Thebes and gained the respect from the rest of the Greeks not to rebel.
Many people may say that Asoka was a ruthless conqueror because of his conquest of Kalinga which was a bloody battle where many people died and many more were driven out of their country, but I bet the evidence I will show you will make you believe he was an enlightened ruler. From 268 BCE to 232 BCE Asoka was the ruler of the Mauryan Empire, which is now known as India. During that time many of his actions shows that he was enlightened. First, the conquest of Kalinga which many people think was ruthless was something that the Mauryan people needed so I believe that battle was one of an enlightened ruler rather than a ruthless conqueror. Asoka can also be considered an enlightened ruler because he went on a pilgrimage looking for a teacher and after finding a Buddhist monk and following his instructions he was able to understand history, reject violence, and form ideas that had never been thought of before.
His goal was to make society fair and equal, with economic possibilities
In great literature there are often characters who are deceitful to others to carry out a greater purpose. By doing so the character often compromises relationships with friends and family but it can also compromise the safety of the character and others around them. In the play Hamlet Shakespeare uses Hamlet’s character to elaborate on this situation, Claudius is deceiving his family and friends for a greater purpose which at times seems to do more bad than good. Claudius deceives many people in the tragedy Hamlet.
In Ancient India, the people named their flag after Asoka. He did great things for the Mauryan Empire that gave a good ending, but were the means of the ending just? Asoka ruled Ancient India and changed the history of it doing good and bad things for himself but for his empire. Was it being Ruthless or Enlightened? His responsibility for many deaths, his wanting of unfair wars, the unjust laws all clearly imply that Asoka is a Ruthless Conqueror.
His one goal is power. When he ascends to the Theban throne he focuses on his people’s “undeviating respect for the throne and royal power” (184-5) and that now he possess “the throne and all its powers” (193). His constant refrain of power reveals his motivation. He has such patriotism for his country, not out of love for his people or his city, but for the power it grants him. He says: “whoever places a friend above the good of his own country...is nothing,” (204-5).
Ashoka was one of the third ruler of the Indian Mauryan empire. Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers of ancient India. Ashoka ruled from 268 BCE to 232 BCE. Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta maurya. Although ashoka was a ruthless ruler I would consider him as an Enlighted ruler because of these reasons.
He new that in order to gain control and remain social stability he had to push these strategies and policies through a dictatorial and authoritative style by using his charisma, influence, formal authority and
