The History of Buddhism spans the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, Nepal, in Ancient India. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today. Starting in the north eastern region of the Indian Subcontinent , the religion evolved as it spread through Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. At one time or another it affected most of the Asian continent. The history of Bud...
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The History of Buddhism spans the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, Nepal, in Ancient India. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today. Starting in the north eastern region of the Indian Subcontinent , the religion evolved as it spread through Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. At one time or another it affected most of the Asian continent. The history of Buddhism is also characterized by the development of numerous movements and schisms among them the Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna traditions, with contrasting periods of expansion and retreat. Quite a few scholars and practitioners of Buddhism do not see Buddha Dharma as a religion , .
According to the Buddhist tradition, the historical Buddha Siddhartha Gautama was born to the Shakya clan in Mithila Kingdom, at the beginning of the Magadha period (546–324 BCE). He is also known as the Shakyamuni (literally "The sage of the Shakya clan")....
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