Article: The spread of religious beliefs: just as silk, porcelain, spices, gold, and silver moved along the Silk Road, so, too, did ideas. In fact, religious values and practices were among the most important ideas that spread along these routes.

Millions of people throughout India accepted the beliefs of the Buddha that life is suffering and that people should feel compassion for others and do as little harm as possible. Buddhist missionaries began to travel with merchants and adventurers along the Silk Road to Central Asia, China, and Korea. Because trade flourishes in peaceful areas, many merchants embraced the faith and gave money to support Buddhist monasteries, schools, and rest houses that were open to all. Buddhist cave temples with beautiful statues, first created in India, can still be found from present-day Afghanistan all the way to Korea.

Indian Buddhism must have seemed strange to the ...

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