Brief history of buddhism

The history of Buddhism can be traced back to the 5th century BCE. The religion evolved as it spread from the northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent throughout Central , East , and Southeast Asia.

How did buddhism spread

At one time or another, it influenced most of Asia. The history of Buddhism is also characterized by the development of numerous movements, schisms, and philosophical schools. BCE was the historical founder of Buddhism. The early sources state he was born in the small Shakya Pali: Sakya Republic, which was part of the Kosala realm of ancient India , now in modern-day Nepal.

The Early Buddhist Texts contain no continuous life of the buddha, only later after BCE where various "biographies" with much mythological embellishment written. For the remaining 45 years of his life, he travelled the Gangetic Plains of eastern-central India the region of the Ganges River and its tributaries , teaching his doctrine to a diverse range of people from different castes and initiating monks into his order.

The Buddha sent his disciples to spread the teaching across India. He also initiated an order of nuns. After the death of the Buddha, the Buddhist sangha monastic community remained centered on the Ganges valley, spreading gradually from its ancient heartland. The canonical sources record various councils, where the monastic Sangha recited and organised the orally transmitted collections of the Buddha's teachings and settled certain disciplinary problems within the community.