The Spread of Buddhism

The Silk Road is well-known for the transportation of trading items like silk, different metals, and many other goods. Religion was also moved from place to place. When the Silk Road was opened; monks and other religion leaders were free to travel to different cities. Through the Silk Road Buddhism was adopted from other countries.

Buddhism first originated in India and then it spread to China and other cities found along different branches of the Silk Road. The only evidence of Buddhism was in the ancient Indian language, Pali. Buddhism gradually developed in northwestern India during the 6th century BCE and then it spread to China through the Silk Road. Indian traders and Buddhist monks traveled the Silk Road and some leaders supported the transition from their current religion to Buddhism. The monks brought their religion to the trans-Eurasian trade routes and were welcomed to many of the cities, but Persian Zoroastrianism blocked Buddhism. Many cities in central Asia converted to Buddhism and so did the majority of Northern China.

There are many different religions present in the world today. Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and many others can be found all over the world. The main religion in the United States is Christianity. Religion was spread throughout the world through trade and migrations. The spread of different religions in the modern world was very similar to the spread of Buddhism in the ancient world. Unlike the spread of Buddhism, the modern day spread of religion happed internationally and it carried over the oceans.

My information is from http://www.silk-road.com/artl/buddhism.shtml and Ways of The World By:Robert W. Strayer.