Answer:
Before Emperor Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism, he expanded his empire through a series of military campaigns and conquests. Ashoka, who ruled the Mauryan Empire from around 268 to 232 BCE, inherited a substantial part of his empire from his grandfather Chandragupta Maurya. He continued to expand it by launching military campaigns, which were marked by fierce battles and conquests.
Ashoka's expansionist campaigns extended the Mauryan Empire to include most of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing parts of modern-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. He used a combination of military might, diplomacy, and strategic alliances to subdue various regional kingdoms and annex them into his empire. The Kalinga War fought around 261 BCE, was a significant turning point in his life, as the brutal conflict resulted in a high human cost and led to Ashoka's spiritual transformation.
It was after the Kalinga War that Ashoka experienced a change of heart, and he eventually embraced Buddhism, which marked a profound shift in his rule towards non-violence, moral values, and a commitment to spreading the teachings of Buddhism. This transformation had a profound impact on the rest of his reign and his legacy.
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