1st–6th centuries CEReputable sourceWell documented
The Spread of Buddhism
On the timeline · around 1st–6th centuries CE ·
What happened
The Silk Road carried not just goods but ideas and faiths. Buddhist monks and merchants traveled the routes from India into Central Asia and China, and along the way built monasteries and carved vast cave temples, such as those at Dunhuang, filled with painted scriptures and statues.
Why it matters
The overland transmission of Buddhism from India to East Asia — where it became one of the region's great religions — is one of the most important cultural exchanges in history, and a prime example of how the Silk Road moved beliefs as well as trade.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Buddhism · Reputable source
Related timelines
- History of Japan → — Buddhism's long journey east, eventually reaching Japan