Ashoka

About Ashoka

Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor who reigned from approximately 268 to 232 BCE, is ranked #418 in historical importance by the Pantheon project due to his profound global impact, particularly his conversion to Buddhism and subsequent commitment to spreading its tenets across Asia and beyond through edicts and missions. Following the brutal Kalinga War, Ashoka championed a policy of non-violence (Dhamma) and oversaw an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity, making him a foundational figure in the history of South Asia and world religious history. His legacy is cemented by the rock and pillar edicts, which remain important historical artifacts today.

Despite this massive historical weight, Ashoka receives a relatively modest 1.2 million annualized Wikipedia views in 2025. This places him in a state of 'overattention' relative to his current digital footprint, evidenced by an Attention Gap score of +3x, meaning his attention is three times greater than what a figure of his historical rank might be expected to receive in the modern online sphere. However, this figure shows a clear disconnect when compared to contemporary political figures, such as George W. Bush (#441 importance), who garners 7.4 million views, or even less historically significant contemporary politicians like Richard Nixon (#748 importance), who receives 4.2 million views.

Looking closer at the current digital landscape, Ashoka's online presence appears to be weakening, as indicated by an 18.4% year-over-year decline in views and a negative momentum of -11% when comparing early and late 2025 data. This suggests that while he is still recognized significantly more than his historical rank might predict, interest in the architect of the Mauryan Empire's moral transformation is currently waning on the internet.