The Mauryan emperor Ashoka died in about:

Emperor Ashoka died in about 232 BCE, after ruling for about 37 or 40 years.

Important dates in Ashoka's life (approximate):

• About 304 BCE: birth.
• About 273 BCE: became king after the death of Bindusara.
• About 269 BCE: formal coronation (abhisheka).
• About 261 BCE: the Kalinga war, in the eighth year after his coronation.
• About 250 BCE: the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra.
• About 232 BCE: death.

His reign:

• After the Kalinga war, he was filled with remorse at the suffering it caused, and decided to give up wars of conquest.
• He adopted a policy of "Dhamma" (moral law), based on non-violence, tolerance, respect for elders, kindness to servants and animals, and generosity.
• He spread his message through inscriptions on rocks and pillars across the empire, in Prakrit and other languages.
• He sent missionaries to spread Buddhism to other countries.
• He built hospitals for humans and animals, planted trees, dug wells and built rest-houses along roads.

His last years:

According to Buddhist legends (in the Ashokavadana), in his last years he gave away so much to the Sangha that his ministers stopped him from using the treasury, and he was left with only half a myrobalan fruit (amalaka) to give.

His death and after:

• After his death, the Mauryan empire declined quickly, and ended in about 185 BCE.
• The empire may have been divided between his grandsons Dasharatha (in the east) and Samprati (in the west).

How Ashoka was rediscovered:

• For many centuries, Ashoka was largely forgotten in India.
• In 1915, the Maski inscription was found, which mentioned the name "Ashoka", confirming that "Devanampiya Piyadasi" was Ashoka.

Why not the other options?

• ✗273 BCE is when Ashoka became king.
• ✗261 BCE is the approximate date of the Kalinga war.
• ✗185 BCE is when the Mauryan empire ended.