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SANKALP 2024
Ancient History – Mains Question 19

1. Delineate the probable reasons for the decline of the Mauryan Empire.
(10 marks, 150 words)

Approach:
 Introduction: You can start by stating how the Mauryan empire started to decline after Ashoka’s
death.
 Body: Discuss various reasons behind the decline of the Mauryan Empire.
 Conclusion: Conclude the answer by mentioning the decline of Mauryan and rise of Shunga.

Ans. Soon after Ashoka's death, in 232 BCE, the Mauryan empire began to disintegrate. One of the
major drawbacks after Ashoka’s death was the succession by a chain of weak rulers to rule the
dynasty which further contributed to the rapid decline of the Mauryan Dynasty.

Reasons for the Decline of the Mauryan Empire:

 Brahmanical Reaction: The Brahmanical reaction began as a result of Ashoka’s policy. His
preaching and principles were in sharp contradiction of Brahmanism.
 Financial Crisis: The enormous expenditure on the army and payment to the bureaucracy
created a financial crisis for the Mauryans. Despite the range of taxes imposed on the people,
it was difficult to maintain this huge superstructure of bureaucracy and defence mechanism.
 Oppressive Rule in Provinces: There have been instances of complaints by citizens of
certain provinces regarding misrule by corrupt officials.
 Spread of Material Knowledge: On the basis of the material culture acquired from
Magadha, new kingdoms could be founded and developed. This explains the rise of the
Sungas and Kanvas in central India, of the Chetis in Kalinga, and of the Satavahanas in the
Deccan.
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 Neglect of the North-West Frontier: The neglect of protecting the north-west frontier
allowed some Central Asian nomadic tribes (Scythians) to move towards the settled empires
of China and India. In the third century BCE, the Greeks first invaded India, and set up their
kingdom in north Afghanistan called Bactria.

The Mauryan Empire declined for about 50 years after Ashoka's rule, and dissolved with the assassination
of Brihadratha by Pushyamitra Shunga and foundation of the Shunga Empire in Magadha.

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