The history of the world as told through objects at the British Museum arrives in India over 2000 years ago. Throughout this week Neil MacGregor is exploring the lives and methods of powerful new leaders.
Today he looks at how the Indian ruler Ashoka turned his back on violence and plunder to promote the ethical codes inspired by Buddhism. He communicated to his vast new nation through a series of edicts written on rocks and pillars. Neil tells the life story of Ashoka through a remaining fragment of one of his great pillar edicts and considers his legacy in the Indian sub-continent today. Amartya Sen and the Bhutanese envoy to Britain, Michael Rutland, describe what happened when Buddhism and the power of the state come together.
Producer: Anthony Denselow.
view more
More Episodes
Object 101
2020-12-25
2020-12-25
Solar-powered lamp and charger
2010-10-22
158
2010-10-22
158
Credit card
2010-10-21
123
2010-10-21
123
Throne of Weapons
2010-10-20
104
2010-10-20
104
Hockney's In the Dull Village
2010-10-19
74
2010-10-19
74
Russian revolutionary plate
2010-10-18
104
2010-10-18
104
Suffragette-defaced penny
2010-10-15
81
2010-10-15
81
Sudanese slit drum
2010-10-14
70
2010-10-14
70
Hokusai's The Great Wave
2010-10-13
96
2010-10-13
96
Early Victorian tea set
2010-10-12
135
2010-10-12
135
Ship's chronometer from HMS Beagle
2010-10-11
92
2010-10-11
92
Jade bi
2010-10-08
79
2010-10-08
79
Australian Bark Shield
2010-10-07
96
2010-10-07
96
North American Buckskin Map
2010-10-06
91
2010-10-06
91
Hawaiian feather helmet
2010-10-05
80
2010-10-05
80
Akan Drum
2010-10-04
78
2010-10-04
78
Reformation Centenary Broadsheet
2010-10-01
68
2010-10-01
68
Mexican Codex Map
2010-09-30
104
2010-09-30
104
Shadow Puppet of Bima
2010-09-29
81
2010-09-29
81
Miniature of a Mughal Prince
2010-09-28
100
2010-09-28
100
Get this podcast on your
phone, FREE
