Why Was the Silk Road So Important in the Spread of Buddhism Essay (Article)

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Introduction

The Silk Road impacted world history in numerous ways during ancient times. The fundamental importance was the spread of Buddhism from India to the rest of the world. The Silk route was the main path used by caravans that carried precious goods from the East to the West, including cash on the return journey. It was a highway of trade between the dominant societies of China and India, where the exchange of goods, ideas, and information occurred. China traded silk, white porcelain, and prized products, while India supplied the world with pepper and cotton. These commodities were the most extensive and valuable trade items globally, giving the Silk route fame and popularity during that time.

Main body

Trade development along the Silk Road resulted in the expansion of Buddhism to Eastern Asia and China. The Chinese thoughtfully harmed the reputation of Confucianism, leading to many believing in the Buddhism religion. The road had many beautiful wall paintings and buddha images decorated on caves as gratitude for having traveled this far (Twist, 2018). This factor led to many travelers identifying with Buddhism, which expanded the religion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, many Buddhist missionaries and travelers performed remarkable acts that emphasized charity and kindness to all people through the Silk Route Trade. These actions inspired more people to join Buddhism because they believed in their teachings and doing along the road. In addition, it was the longest land trade route that connected the most powerful merchants. Buddhist monks traveled with traders, which led to the establishment of monasteries used as safe places along the way. This fostered the interaction between the traders and the monks spreading the religion along the route.

Reference

Twist, R. L. (2018). Images of the crowned buddha along the silk road: Iconography and ideology. Humanities, 7(4), 92. Web.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, December 27). Why Was the Silk Road So Important in the Spread of Buddhism. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-was-the-silk-road-so-important-in-the-spread-of-buddhism/

Work Cited

"Why Was the Silk Road So Important in the Spread of Buddhism." IvyPanda, 27 Dec. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/why-was-the-silk-road-so-important-in-the-spread-of-buddhism/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Why Was the Silk Road So Important in the Spread of Buddhism'. 27 December.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Why Was the Silk Road So Important in the Spread of Buddhism." December 27, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-was-the-silk-road-so-important-in-the-spread-of-buddhism/.

1. IvyPanda. "Why Was the Silk Road So Important in the Spread of Buddhism." December 27, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-was-the-silk-road-so-important-in-the-spread-of-buddhism/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Why Was the Silk Road So Important in the Spread of Buddhism." December 27, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/why-was-the-silk-road-so-important-in-the-spread-of-buddhism/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
1 / 1