To which dynasty did Ashoka belong ?

Ashoka was the third ruler of the Mauryan Empire, which was founded by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya [2]. He succeeded his father, Bindusara, around 268 BCE and ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent. The Mauryan dynasty reached its peak under Ashoka's reign, particularly following his conquest of Kalinga, which led to his conversion to Buddhism and the promotion of 'Dhamma'. Historical records such as the Arthashastra and various Ashokan edicts provide significant details about the Mauryan administration during this period [2]. It is important to distinguish the Mauryan dynasty from the later Gupta dynasty, which was founded by Sri Gupta and included rulers like Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) [3]. Ashoka's legacy is primarily associated with the Mauryan flag and the expansion of Buddhism across Asia.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > Introduction > p. 46
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > SUMMARY > p. 61
3. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > 7.71Decline of the Gupta Empire > p. 101