Final answer:
After Ashoka's death, the Mauryan Empire collapsed in 185 BCE, leading to a period of fragmentation and rule by smaller kingdoms in India.
Step-by-step explanation:
After Ashoka's death, the Mauryan Empire collapsed in 185 BCE. This led to a period of fragmentation and rule by smaller kingdoms and autonomous cities and villages in India. The empire was replaced by a multitude of smaller regional kingdoms that shared a common culture linked by Hinduism, Buddhism, Sanskrit texts, and the caste system.