HIST 384 - Historical Development of Buddhism

This course offers a broad understanding of Buddhism as a historical and cultural phenomenon in which people interacted with one another across South, Central, Southeast, East Asia, Europe and America over last two and half millennia.

On the one hand, Buddhism began as a set of doctrine and practices initiated by historical Buddha. He explored the meaning of life and death, the very nature of being, knowing, and time. On the other hand, Buddhism evolved as an ideological force entangled with state power, family structure, and women’s role in a society in India and the rest of Asia. This course will help us to examine how such historical development shaped the ways people in Asia and the rest of world saw and interacted with their worlds.

Credits:3 cr

Session Cycle: Winter onlyYearly Cycle: Periodically