what led to the downfall of the mauryan empire? how is ashoka held responsible for it?
Answers
Originally Answered: What led to the decline of the Maurya empire?
The Mauryan empire was the first empire to unite entire India under one banner. Only five minor kingdoms remained independent in the south,but Ashoka won dharmavijaya over these kingdoms. However Like many empires,the mighty Mauryan empire was destined for downfall. There are many reasons.
Weak successors of Ashoka: The Mauryan empire met it’s end 50 years after the death of emperor Ashoka the great. Emperor Kunal , Dasharath,Samprathi,Shalishuka,Devavarma,Shathadhanush, Brihadratha ruled from 232 B.C to 184 B.C. They were incapable and weak. As the result they couldn't provide the good administration.
Independent provinces: In the beginning, emperors like Chandragupta Maurya and Ahoka built a Pan Indian empire on the base of centralized administrative system. But there were few client states which used to ruled on behalf of the Mauryan empire. These client states started self governance after the death of Ashoka. In Kalhana’s Rajatharangini, it is said that after Ashoka’s death, one of his children, Jalauka proclaimed independence in Kashmir. According to foreign sources, Subhagasena became independent in Gandhar.ThenKalinga,Vidharba,Andhra,Chola,Pandya,Satyaputra eventually became independent.
Administrative defects: Corruption in the Mauryan provincial bureaucracy angered Mauryan citizens. During the reign of Bindusara, Taxila revolted against Mauryan empire, fed up by the atrocities of provincial officers. Officers posted in the frontiers took advantage of their position and ruled like tyrants.
Though Mauryans had a top down centralized bureaucracy,the administration was decentralized. The Satraps appointed by the emperor appointed their own provincial bureaucracy. So the power concentrated in the hands of local Satraps. This led to the downfall of Mauryan empire
Economic causes: If we look at the coins issued during the later Mauryan empire, we can observe that they used low grade silver for minting. This shows the strained economic condition during Mauryan empire. Though the strong agro- based economy of Ganges river basin, there was disparity of wealth across the empire. Mauryan government had to pay for the expenses of colonies,in addition to the salary of a vast army of 400,000-600,000 and also a huge bureaucracy. This strain caused the decline of the empire.
Weak successors, revolt of provisional governors, weakness of economic Greek invasion cause decline of Mauryan empire.
After Kalinga war Ashoka adopted not violence and so his disbanded Army this weakened the empire and led to its decline .