Question

Because this ruler’s name does not appear in many important texts, Christopher Beckwith controversially argued that a title translated as “He who regards others with kindness” likely refers to this ruler’s father. This ruler apocryphally burned 500 of his concubines alive after they cut down a namesake tree. (10[1])The travelers Fǎxiǎn (-5[1])(“fa-sh’yen”) and Xuánzàng (“shwen-dzong”) both visited the site of a legendary torture chamber created by this ruler (10[1])dubbed his namesake “Hell.” This ruler planted banyan trees and mango groves along roads like the Grand Trunk Road as part of his dhamma policy. (10[1])This ruler referred to himself as the “beloved of the gods.” (10[1])This ruler, who won the Kalinga War, inscribed (10[1])edicts (10[2])on stone pillars throughout his empire. For 10 points, name this “great” Mauryan emperor who converted (-5[1])to Buddhism. ■END■ (10[3])

ANSWER: Ashoka the Great [or Asoka; accept Ashoka’s Hell; accept Priyadasi]
<Other History>
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PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
William OrrYale ATufts B4710
Rohan GaneshanHarvard ABrandeises Brew50-5
Rajat SethiNortheastern AMIT A6510
Derek FinoClark ABowdoin B9010
MarkWilliams AAmherst A10110
Jaehyun ParkBoston University ADiamond Brandeis10910
Lukas KoutsoukosYale BBowdoin A11010
Kevin ZhengYale CTufts A11010
Jack FeinbergCarabrandeisBrown A126-5
Andrew MessersmithA Brandeis SupremeBoston University B12910
Alex JiangBrown ACarabrandeis12910
William BarashBrandeises BrewHarvard A12910