π§ The Origins of Buddhism
π§ The Ancients
•
34m
One of the oldest religions in the world, Buddhism is practiced by over 400 million people today, but where did it originate from? Pioneered by the Buddha - a wandering ascetic - it emerged in northern India in the fifth century BC as a new path that challenged the elitist structures of Indian Vedic culture. But what sparked the Buddhaβs journey to enlightenment, and why did his teachings spread so far and so quickly?
In todayβs episode of The Ancients, Tristan is joined by Dr Mary Storm - an expert on Indian ancient history - to unravel the origins of Buddhism. Together, they take a deep-dive into a world shaped by the Four Noble Truths, and the Eight-Fold Path, and explore who the legendary Buddha really was.
The Senior Producer was Elena Guthrie.
The Assistant Producer was Annie Coloe.
Edited by Joseph Knight.
For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here.
Up Next in π§ The Ancients
-
π§ The Bantu Expansion
The Bantu expansion was one of the most significant cultural events in human history. Sometime between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago in Sub-Saharan Africa, massive numbers of Proto-Bantu speaking peoples spread out around the continent from an unknown central location. As they moved into new areas, t...
-
π§ The Colossus of Rhodes
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes has lived on in legend - with fact and fiction often blurring. A 108 ft high statue of the Sun God Helios, it was erected in celebration by the people of Rhodes after successfully defending the island against Alexander the Grea...
-
π§ Cleopatra's Daughter
Cleopatra XII is one of the most famous individuals from the ancient world. The final Queen of Ancient Egypt, and a woman who used her position to directly influence Roman politics and society, there's more to her than Shakespeare plays would suggest. And while Cleopatra's story ended in tragedy,...