A History of the World in 100 Objects: Pillar of Asoka

Director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor retells the history of human development from the first stone axe to the credit card, using 100 selected objects from the Museum. Neil explores how the Indian ruler Asoka turned his back on violence and plunder to promote the ethical codes of Buddhism. He communicated to his vast new nation through a series of edicts written on rocks and pillars. Neil tells the life story of Asoka through a remaining fragment of one of his great pillar edicts and considers his legacy in India today. Amartya Sen and the Bhutanese envoy to Britain, Michael Rutland, describe what happened when Buddhism and power comes together