• Chinese invasion of Tibet, 1951

  Persecution of Buddhist monks

• Chinese mainland under Communist control

  Buddhism and other religions suppressed

• Americans become interested in Buddhism, 1890s
• European colonialization of southeast Asia, ca 1700-1900

Layer 6: Buddhism in the Modern World

• Buddhism established in Laos, 1360
• Buddhism established in Thailand, ca 1300
• Delhi Sultanate rule of India (Moslem), 1210-1526

  Many attacks on Buddhist centers and monasteries.

  Buddhism essentially destroyed in India

• Construction of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, 1150
• Buddhism established in Burma, 1044
• Buddhism in Java, Borobudur stupa built, 750
• Mahayana established in Tibet, 740-798

Layer 5: Later Buddhism: Success and Defeat

• Buddhism enters Japan, 538 ce
• Pure Land and Zen Buddhism founded in China, ca 500 ce
• Buddhism enters Korea, 399 ce
• Buddhism becomes established in China, C4 ce
• Indian dynasty of the Guptas patronizes Buddhism, 320-540 ce
• Buddhist texts translated into Chinese, C2 ce
• Nagarjuna, C2 ce
• Buddhism enters China, C1 ce

Layer 4: Missionary Buddhism: Spreading the Word

• Buddhism enters southern India, ca 30 ce
• Writing of Mahayana Sutras, 200 bce-200 ce
• Rise of Mahayana, 200 bce-200 ce

Layer 3: Developing Buddhism: The Creation of Mahayana

• Buddhism spreads to Sri Lanka, 247 bce
• Kingship of Ashoka, patron of Buddhism, 269-232 bce
• Tripitaka composed, ca 300 bce
• Buddhism spreads across northern India, 322-185 bce

Layer 2: Early Buddhism: The Creation of Theravada

• Siddhartha's death, 483 bce
• Siddhartha's Enlightenment, 528 bce
• Siddhartha's Renunciation, 534 bce
• Siddhartha's (The Buddha) birth, 563 bce

  For an in-depth description of Buddha's life, go here.

  For a "picture-book" series of highlights of Buddha's early life, go here, here and then here.

Layer 1: Origins

Buddhism Timeline

Note: Read upwards.