Changes

After Chdragupta died, his son and Ashoka’s father, Bindusara, came to the throne in 297 BC. He was known by the Greek historians as “Amitrochates” and ruled until 272 BC. <ref> Thapar, p. 178</ref> If Bindusara taught Ashoka one thing, it was how to be a ruthless conqueror. Bindusara exterminated the kings and nobles of sixteen cities and subjugated India from the Indian to the Pacific oceans, establishing what would be the boundaries of the Mauryan Empire for nearly 100 years. In fairness to Bindusara, his use of violence was probably more of a reaction to the cruel governors who caused rebellions within their realms more than it was a love of wanton violence on his part. <ref> Lamotte, Étienne. <i>History of Indian Buddhism: From the Origins to the Śaka Era. </i> Translated by Sara Webb-Boin. </i> (Leuven, Belgium: Peeters Press, 1988), p. 223</ref> Still, there is little doubt that Ashoka learned from his father at an early age that violence could be an effective method to keep and hold power in an often chaotic region of the world.