The Spread of Buddhism to Southeast Asia
During the Classical and Postclassical era (600BCE-1450CE) Buddhism, which was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in India, spread to the rest of South and Southeast Asia through major trade routes such as the Silk Road and Indian Ocean Trade Route. |
The 2 Major Forms of Buddhism
In India, the form of Buddhism that developed is currently called Theravada Buddhism, which depicts the Buddha as, literally, "the enlightened one" who has found the truth in the world and is not divine.
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However, as Buddhism spread to the rest of Asia, a new form emerged, called Mahayana Buddhism, which reveres the Buddha as a holy and divine.
Despite this cultural diffusion and change, most people in Myanmar practice Theravada Buddhism. |