Classical Asia

First empire to unify most of the Indian subcontinent, establishing enduring administrative traditions

Third Mauryan emperor who converted to Buddhism and spread it across Asia through edicts and missionaries

Classical Indian empire presiding over a golden age of Sanskrit literature, Hindu art, mathematics, and astronomy

Chinese dynasty that established Confucian governance, bureaucratic examinations, and the cultural template for East Asian civilization

First Emperor of unified China who established centralized imperial system in 221 BCE

Chinese philosopher and teacher whose ethical teachings formed the foundation of Confucianism

Indian prince who founded Buddhism through his teachings on enlightenment and the path to liberation from suffering

Ancient Indian ascetic tradition of wandering renouncers that gave rise to Buddhism, Jainism, and shaped Hindu philosophy