What were the factors that contributed to the decline of Mauryas? The commanders of Ashoka were given control of large swaths of lands. There appears to have been a division of land as well, with the eastern portions under Dasharatha's control and the western portions under Kunala's. Scholars have proposed a variety of theories to explain this loss of control. It is sometimes claimed that Ashoka's pro-Buddhist and pro-Jaina policies alienated the Brahmins, prompting Pushyamit

THE SIXTEEN MAHAJANAPADAS In Indian history, the sixth century B.C. is regarded as a turning point. The formation of early governments and towns, as well as the increased use of iron and the introduction of metal coinage, occurred during this time. As different schools of thought such as Buddhism and Jainism developed, they saw a lot of human activity. The mahajanapadas, or sixteen states, are mentioned in early Buddhist and Jain writings. Names like Vajji, Magadha, Koshala,