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====Conclusion====Ashoka was one of the most important personalities in the ancient world and arguably the most important person in pre-modern Indian history. He controlled a vast empire that encompassed most of the Indian sub-continent and patronized the Buddhist religion, helping make it one of the greatest and most followed religions of the world. The reason for Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism has always been a source of interest and debate for scholars, Buddhists , and lay people laypeople alike since he seemed to make such an abrupt turn in morality once he converted.  The rock edicts and pillar inscriptions seem to indicate that Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism was fairly gradual and was influenced by a combination of the earlier Indic religions he was in contact with daily and guilt over his cruel acts early in his reign, especially the final battle with Kalinga.