The Mauryan Empire declined after Ashoka's death, facing multiple challenges. With reference to this, answer the following questions:

(a) What were the main reasons for the decline of the Mauryan Empire after Ashoka's reign?

(b) How did the financial crisis and military neglect contribute to the weakening of the Mauryan Empire?

(c) What role did the revolts by provincial governors and external invasions play in the fall of the Mauryan Empire?

(a) The main reasons for the decline of the Mauryan Empire after Ashoka's reign are:

1. The empire was too vast and Ashoka's successors struggled to maintain control over it due to their relative weakness.
2. Enormous expenditure on maintaining a huge army and vast bureaucratic apparatus created a financial crisis.
3. Ashoka's pacifist policies, along with political instability, contributed to the weakening of the empire's military strength.
4. Governors of outlying provinces revolted due to lack of control.
5. The Greeks began invading the northwest frontier, which could not be effectively checked.

(b) The financial crisis and military neglect contribute to the weakening of the Mauryan Empire in the following ways:

1. Ashoka's welfare policies (e.g., building hospitals, roads, and promoting dhamma) placed a heavy burden on the state treasury.
2. After his death, revenue collection weakened due to administrative inefficiency and loss of central control.
3. Economic pressure made it difficult to fund the military.
4. Ashoka’s commitment to non-violence (ahimsa) led to a reduction in military aggression and possible disarmament.
5. As military strength declined, external forces and rebellious provinces became harder to suppress.

(c) Governors of outlying provinces revolted due to lack of control, and the northwest frontier invaded by the Greeks could not be effectively checked.