Buddhism spread factors:
Ashoka supported Buddhism and converted many people, including merchants Ashoka (basically) started the Buddhism in Sri Lanka by sending missionaries there Sri Lanka later grew to be the center of Theravada school Ashoka also supported missionary efforts to Sri Lanka, Central Asia north of Himalayas, Middle East Merchants brought the religion to their ports of trade Military camps in Sri Lanka spread it to parts of Southeast Asia (12th & 13th century) Spread to Burma, parts of present day Indonesia (Java especially), Thailand: All due to renewed South Asian merchant activity Decline (in India) factors:
Guptas (rulers of Gupta Dynasty) preferred Hinduism Buddhism became limited to monasteries only so common people came into contact with Hinduism more Monasteries became corrupt and dissociated with Indian people International merchant activity declined (since China and Rome in disarray) so traders were more dependent on locals, which came more in contact with Hinduism instead of Buddhism (because of Guptas preferring Hinduism) Buddhism appealed to:
Because poorer classes suffered more, they preferred Buddhism In a way, Buddhism turned into a religion to make up for the "bad" elements of Hinduism Theravada Buddhism v. Mahayana Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism:
Closest to the original Buddhist ideas Goal was personal salvation through prayer No obligation to save others Theravada Buddhism was boosted with a lot of Indian influence India had a lot of influence in trade Theravada Buddhism first spread to Sri Lanka because Ashoka sent the first missionaries. Sri Lanka became the center of Theravada school as a result. Places that depended on Indian influence was more affected by Theravada Buddhism Did better in southern Central Asia: Rulers and townspeople there looked to India Mahayana Buddhism:
Went beyond traditional Buddhism Meditation and self-mortification Greater commitment to holy leaders to gain salvation Rituals/paying for religious verses for prayer Bodhisattvas, saints, sought purity for themselves and mortals Wisdom, generosity, service to others Was more flexible than Theravada Buddhism so it flourished in northern Central and East Asia China: centralized and bureaucratic. Needed flexibility Mongolia, Tibet: believed in magic and sorcery. Also needed flexibility Northern Central Asia: had less traditional Indian influence (Theravada Buddhism), local herding people had polytheistic religion Could easily merge with local religions Buddhism merged with Shinto divinities in Japan and created a "new" variation of Buddhism The Buddhist legacy + how Buddhism declined in certain areas
Buddhism both united and divided Asia. Buddhism's reach was wide but: Various sects of Buddhism and varied beliefs this means no persecution for Buddhist monks / they could freely travel BUT there were so many variations Buddhism could easily merge with local religions (strength) but (weakness) this made it more vulnerable to "better-organized appeals or cultural counterattacks". Buddhism in Central Asia and Indonesian islands was diminished by the Muslim surge China's ruling class in the 9th century persecuted Buddhists and closed monasteries Fear of Buddhism's lack of interest in state and politics Dislike for Buddhism's hate for family values Hate for Buddhism praise for celibacy (vowing not to be married/staying in a state of sexual abstinence) After centuries, Buddhism came back but not as a major force Confucianism in Korea and missionary Christianity affected Buddhism’s spread (19th century) Starting from the 17th century, Japanese government supported Confucianism rather than Buddhism Revival of Shintoism around this time also limited Buddhism 
