Question

What were the causea of the decline of the Mauryan dynasty? What were it's consequences?
Please give the answer in points.

Answer 1

Political and Administrative causes:-

Ashoka was succeeded by weak rulers. This encouraged the provinces to proclaim their  independence. The arduous task of administering such a vast empire could not be executed by the weak rulers .The mutual quarrel among the successors also contributed to the decline of the Mauryan empire.  

Religious causes:-  

Ashoka had invoked a strong religious doctrine based on the law of piety. The policy of peace during the rule of  Ashoka was mainly due to his influence over the vast empire. The Brahmanas who before the Mauryas had contributed to the establishment of the Mauryan rule now  organised to the establishment of the old order. This quelled the impact of the Buddhist doctrine which was made a political, economic and social policy besides influencing the cultural sphere of the life during the Ashokan period.

The inactive army who's officers were made Dharmamahamantras for propagating the law of piety, lost their skill to defend themselves.

Answer 2

The decline of the Maurya Dynasty was rather rapid after the death of Ashoka/Asoka. One obvious reasonfor it was the succession of weak kings. Another immediate cause wasthe partition of the Empire into two. ...Mauryan Empire began to decline after the death of Ashoka in 232 BC.