The traditional approach attributes the decline to Asoka’s policies and his weak successors
Another approach holds the inadequate political and economic institutions to sustain such a vast empire
It was said that Asoka’s pro-Buddhist policies antagonized the Brahmins who brought about a revolution led by Pusyamitra Sunga. But Asoka never acted against Brahmins
Another charge against him was his policy of non-violence reduced the fighting spirit of his army
Blaming Asoka for this decline may not be correct because he was more a pragmatist than an idealist
Multiple causes- weak successors, partition of empire, administrative abuses after Asoka’s reign