Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas

This volume is about the history of the decline of the Mauryan dynasty in ancient India and the reign of Aśoka Maurya. It describes the sources of information for this study and Aśoka's early life, and his accession to the throne. It discusses the social and economic activity, internal administration, and foreign relations in Mauryan India and evaluates the role of Aśoka's policy of Dhamma in bringing social order. It highlights the weaknesses of the Mauryan rulers who followed after Aśoka's death and suggests reasons for the subsequent decline of the Mauryan dynasty.