The History Book

IN CONTEXT

Focus

The spread of Buddhism

Before

1200 bce Vedic (aka Aryan) culture extends across northern and central India.

1200–800 bce Oral Vedic traditions are written down in Sanskrit as the Vedas.

c.600 bce The Mahajanapadas, the 16 competing kingdoms of Vedic India, emerge.

After

322 bce Chandragupta Maurya founds the Mauryan Empire.

3rd century bce Sri Lanka converts to Buddhism.

185 bce The Mauryan Empire collapses.

1st century ce Buddhism arrives in China and Japan.

7th century Buddhist missionaries are invited to establish a monastery in Tibet.

Siddartha Gautama, better known as the Buddha, was born at the end of the Vedic Age (1800–600 bce) into ...