[ 21st century skills library ]
12
G
autama died in the early fifth century bce. By that time,
however, Buddhism was already spreading. Communities of
monks
in northern India continued to share the Buddha’s ideas
about achieving enlightenment.
Buddhism grew beyond this region during the third century
bce. Under Emperor Ashoka, who then ruled the Indian
subcontinent, it became the state religion. Buddhist
missionaries
brought the Buddha’s teachings to southern India,
as well as Sri Lanka. (The island of Sri Lanka is located in the
Indian Ocean, off of India’s southeastern coast.)
During Ashoka’s reign, Buddhism even reached portions of
Greece, Egypt, and Syria. Gradually, different forms of the religion
Geography: Mapping
How Faith Formed
CH A P T E R 2
