Prince Siddhartha was born about 563 B.C.E. in the northern part of India, near the Himalayas. His father, Suddhodana, was a powerful king. His mother was Queen Maya. According to Buddhist tradition, before her son was born, the queen had a dream. In the dream, she was carried high over the Himalayas to a silver mountain and set on a silver couch. A white elephant with six tusks walked around her and then struck her in the right side. The king and queen asked the Brahmins, or Hindu priests, to explain her dream. “You are carrying a child who will be a great man,” they told the queen. The Brahmins declared that the prince’s future held two possible paths. As a prince, he could rule the universe. But if he left his royal life to see the suffering in the world, he would become the Buddha, one who is enlightened. The queen gave birth to Prince Siddhartha in a garden. Stories say that after the prince’s birth, a soft, warm rain of heavenly flowers fell on the baby and his mother. According to Buddhist tradition, the infant prince already looked a few years old and could walk and talk. Siddhartha began his remarkable life by taking a few steps and declaring, “I am the leader of the world and the guide to the world.” Interactive Notebook Create a short headline for the scene explaining why it is important. On or around the image, label three or more key details in the scene. Write two- to three-sentences that describe what is happening in the scene.
Write a paragraph summarizing how Ashoka expanded and ruled the Mauryan Empire. Use these words in your summary: wars, reject, Buddhist, spread, practical. Section 4: Ashoka’s Edicts Ashoka wanted a strong, united empire guided by Buddhist values. To spread those values to his people, he had edicts carved into walls, rocks, and tall pillars throughout the empire, in places where the greatest number of people could see them. Ashoka’s edicts were designed to promote four main goals: • Buddhist Values These edicts encouraged the Buddha’s teachings. They asked people to be loving and respectful, and to practice nonviolence. They said people should not get attached to worldly things, such as money. They also told people to act morally (do right rather than wrong). • General Welfare - These edicts promoted people’s wellbeing. They were intended to make sure people had good health, shelter, clean water, and enough food. • Justice - These edicts were in regard to fair laws. They also described the way people were to be treated in the empire’s courts and jails. • Security - These edicts were concerned with enemies of the Mauryan Empire and people who were not citizens. They often dealt with issues of peace and conquest. Click to read caption Ashoka’s four goals were intended to give his empire a strong foundation. His reign is still remembered in India as a time of great achievements and progress. But his dream of a united empire did not last. About 45 years after his death, the empire broke apart into separate kingdoms. A more lasting legacy was Ashoka’s support of Buddhism. As you have read, Ashoka sent his son to introduce Buddhism to Ceylon. Later, around the start of the Common Era, Buddhism spread from northwestern India to Central Asia. From there, it traveled to China, Korea, and Japan. Interactive Notebook Describe the four main goals of Ashoka’s edicts on the pillars below.