Ashoka the Great Trivia Questions
How much do you really know about Ashoka the Great? Below are 16 true or false statements. Click each one to reveal the answer and explanation.
1.Ashoka the Great erected stone pillars across India inscribed with his edicts.
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Easy
Ashoka the Great erected stone pillars across India inscribed with his edicts.
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Ashoka the Great ordered the construction of pillars and rock edicts throughout his empire to spread Buddhist principles and moral laws; many still exist today.
2.Ashoka the Great lived during the same time period as Jesus Christ.
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Easy
Ashoka the Great lived during the same time period as Jesus Christ.
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Ashoka the Great died around 232 BCE, while Jesus Christ was born about 4 BCE—centuries apart with no overlap.
3.Ashoka the Great built the Taj Mahal as a monument to his wife.
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Easy
Ashoka the Great built the Taj Mahal as a monument to his wife.
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The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century, nearly 1,900 years after Ashoka the Great's death.
4.Ashoka’s empire included parts of modern-day Greece and Egypt.
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Easy
Ashoka’s empire included parts of modern-day Greece and Egypt.
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Ashoka’s Mauryan Empire covered most of India and parts of Afghanistan, but never reached Greece or Egypt.
5.Ashoka the Great converted to Buddhism after the bloody Kalinga War.
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Easy
Ashoka the Great converted to Buddhism after the bloody Kalinga War.
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Ashoka the Great embraced Buddhism after witnessing the massive casualties of the Kalinga War around 261 BCE, a well-documented turning point in his reign.
6.Ashoka converted to Buddhism after the brutal Kalinga War caused over 100,000 deaths.
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Medium
Ashoka converted to Buddhism after the brutal Kalinga War caused over 100,000 deaths.
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The Kalinga War (261 BCE) was so devastating that Ashoka renounced violence and embraced Buddhism, spreading its teachings across Asia.
7.Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka.
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Medium
Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka.
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Historical texts like the Mahavamsa confirm Ashoka dispatched his son Mahinda to spread Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
8.Ashoka the Great was a Mauryan emperor who converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga war.
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Medium
Ashoka the Great was a Mauryan emperor who converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga war.
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Ashoka ruled the Maurya Empire from c. 268–232 BCE. After the destructive Kalinga war, he embraced Buddhism and propagated dharma through edicts, a well-documented historical turning point.
9.Ashoka the Great sent his son and daughter as Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka.
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Medium
Ashoka the Great sent his son and daughter as Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka.
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According to Buddhist tradition, Ashoka the Great dispatched his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitta to Sri Lanka, where they successfully introduced Buddhism.
10.Ashoka the Great is the emperor after whom the Ashoka Chakra on India's flag is named.
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Medium
Ashoka the Great is the emperor after whom the Ashoka Chakra on India's flag is named.
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The Ashoka Chakra, a 24-spoke wheel on the Indian national flag, is derived from the Lion Capital of Ashoka the Great, symbolizing his dharma.
11.Ashoka the Great was the founder of the Maurya Empire.
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Medium
Ashoka the Great was the founder of the Maurya Empire.
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The Maurya Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka's grandfather, around 321 BCE. Ashoka was the third emperor of the dynasty.
12.Ashoka built hospitals for both humans and animals throughout his empire.
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Medium
Ashoka built hospitals for both humans and animals throughout his empire.
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Ashoka’s edicts describe hospitals and veterinary care, reflecting his unique commitment to nonviolence and animal welfare.
13.Ashoka was born a Hindu and converted to Jainism before becoming a Buddhist.
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Hard
Ashoka was born a Hindu and converted to Jainism before becoming a Buddhist.
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Ashoka was likely raised Hindu, but there is no credible evidence he converted to Jainism; his conversion was directly to Buddhism.
14.Ashoka’s pillar edicts were written in a script that no one could read until the 19th century.
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Hard
Ashoka’s pillar edicts were written in a script that no one could read until the 19th century.
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The Brahmi script on Ashoka’s pillars was deciphered by James Prinsep in 1837, unlocking much of Ashoka’s history.
15.Ashoka was the first Indian ruler to issue coins with his portrait.
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Hard
Ashoka was the first Indian ruler to issue coins with his portrait.
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Mauryan coins typically featured symbols, not portraits. The first Indian ruler with a portrait on coins was likely the Indo-Greek king Menander.
16.Ashoka the Great renounced his throne and became a wandering Buddhist monk.
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Hard
Ashoka the Great renounced his throne and became a wandering Buddhist monk.
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Ashoka the Great remained emperor until his death, though he ruled according to Buddhist principles and personally practiced non-violence.
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