Ashoka

About Ashoka

Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor who reigned from -268 to -232 BCE, stands as one of history's most consequential political figures, earning him the #418 rank in historical importance on the Pantheon project. His enduring legacy stems primarily from his transformation following the Kalinga War; he converted to and vigorously promoted Buddhism across his vast empire, famously erecting pillars inscribed with edicts promoting dhamma (moral law) throughout the Indian subcontinent. This shift from conquest to principled governance cemented his influence on the spread of Buddhism and Indian political thought for centuries.

Despite this profound historical impact, Ashoka's modern internet attention lags significantly behind his historical weight. He registered 1.2 million annualized Wikipedia views in 2025, which, relative to his #418 importance rank, results in an overattention score of +3x, indicating a notable under-attention based on the methodology's premise of proportional recognition. To illustrate this gap, one can compare him to Richard Nixon (#748 importance), who commanded 4.1 million views, or even contemporary politician Benjamin Netanyahu (#744 importance) with 6.7 million views, highlighting the vast digital disconnect from this ancient empire-builder.

Furthermore, the data suggests a cooling in digital curiosity: Ashoka’s 2025 pageviews saw a significant year-over-year decline of -19.5%, and his momentum dropped by -11% between Q1 and Q3, signaling a continued downward trend in current online engagement.