Was Ashoka’s Empire as Peaceful as Popular History Claims?

This research brief analyzes the historical claims of peace within Ashoka's Mauryan Empire, moving beyond popular narratives to interrogate contemporary primary sources, primarily the Ashokan Edicts. It scrutinizes the imperial policy of dharma-vijaya, assessing its practical implementation, the coexistence of moral suasion with state power, and the inherent limitations of royal proclamations as historical evidence.