How did Buddhism spread in India and Sri Lanka and later across Asia?
The primary method Buddhists used to spread their faith was through mission work or “dharma” missions. These missionaries traveled to kingdoms and monasteries to share the teachings of Buddhism. Other missionaries traveled to villages and towns to share the teachings with those who were illiterate or could not travel to the monastery or kingdom.
How did Buddhism spread in India?
buddhism began to spread in India when Emperor Ashoka embraced the religion around the 3rd century BCE. The monks he sent to different parts of the Indian subcontinent spread Buddhism throughout the subcontinent. Those monks also built monasteries all over India and provided support to those who had chosen to become monks.
How did Buddhism spread in Sri Lanka?
Buddhism spread to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE, most likely through the south Indian maritime trade routes. This is the period when Indian merchants made their way through the coastal towns of South India and Southeast Asia. The Buddhist monks who arrived in Sri Lanka were able to learn Sanskrit from the local natives to communicate with the Hindu priests of the region.
How did Buddhism spread to Southeast Asia?
Buddhism made its way to the region through the kingdoms of the Khmer and the Vietnamese. The Khmer capital was located at Angkor in modern-day Cambodia. The region that they dominated was known as Indochina. The history of Buddhism in Cambodia goes back to the 3rd century BC, when the religion arrived there from India. This arrival was likely due to the Indian campaigns of the Mon kings of Burma, which had the aim of conquering the region. Between the 5th and the
How did Buddhism spread to Thailand?
Buddhism first arrived in Thailand via the Khmer culture, which had strong ties with India during the 5th to 9th centuries AD. When the Khmer culture declined, it opened the door for Buddhism to flourish in Thailand. Scholars believe monks traveled south from Myanmar (formerly Burma) to Thailand to cultivate the religion.