Final answer:
After the decline of the Maurya empire, India was kept from remaining united due to rivalries between Gupta princes, cultural differences between the north and the south, and religious differences between Buddhists in the north and Hindus in the Deccan.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the decline of the Maurya empire, several factors tended to keep India from remaining united. These factors included:
- Rivalries between Gupta princes: After the decline of the Maurya empire, the Gupta princes engaged in power struggles that led to the fragmentation of India.
- Cultural differences between the north and the south: India had diverse cultures in the north and the south, which contributed to the regional division and hindered the formation of a united India.
- Religious differences between Buddhists in the north and Hindus in the Deccan: Religious differences between Buddhists in the north and Hindus in the Deccan also contributed to the fragmentation of India.