Two of the world’s major religions, Christianity and Buddhism, occupy an important place in China today, despite the fact that they were founded far from either Modern or Ancient China: Buddhism was established in around 500 B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama in India, whereas Christianity was founded in Judea around 1 C.E. after the death of Jesus. Despite this difference in time and geography, the later spread of these two religions from their origins to 1450 C.E. holdsimportant similarities.
 
One vital similarity in the spread of Buddhism and Christianity is the role of trade routes. Since the Silk Road was established in 130 B.C.E, it has become one of the most important and effective ways for the spread and exchange of goods, culture, and religions. The route of the Silk Road across the entire Eurasian continent was the basis for the spread of both religions into China. Buddhism and Christianity both involved merchants and missionaries in their diffusion. In the western regions of the Silk Road, Christianity changed from a local religion to an evangelical one that spread quickly with the help of merchants who believed in Christianity. Similarly, merchants who were Buddhists brought the religion of Buddhism through the Silk Road to all over Asia along with their products. The Silk Road made it easier for these so-called “missionaries” to travel safely, quickly, and comfortably across countries and regions, tagging along with caravans or sometimes selling goods themselves. One famous figure regarded as a major missionaryof Christianity was Paul, whose “road to Damascus” was, in fact, part of the Silk Road and who took a leading role in spreading the teaching of Jesus all around the Roman Empire and farther east after Jesus’ death. As for Buddhism, one of the most-famous missionaries was Tripitaka, a Chinese Buddhist who made use of the Silk Road to travel back to India to receive training in Buddhism that he could bring back to China. These missionaries, together with the merchants, really helped spread the two religions to East Asia.
 
Both religions established specific kinds of architecture in the spreading, with Churches for Christianity and temples for Buddhism. Churches were built wherever the religion was spread and normally in urban centres, highlighting the evangelical nature of the religion, whereas temples were often built in more remote districts where monastic life could be maintained. These religious architectures became extremely important and necessary for the spread of both religions since they provided places for centralized symbolization of the religions. These buildings not only helped their apostles maintain practice of their religions but also offered people who were not apostles permanent chances to encounter andlearn about the religion.
 
As for the differences between the diffusion of Buddhism and Christianity, the most obvious difference was the directions they spread: Christianity mainly spread to the West toward Europe, while Buddhism spread mainly to the East into Asia. Moreover, the spread of Buddhism and Christianity were affected differently by their relationships withgovernments and establishments within political power: Even though at first it was restricted by the Roman government and its apostles were persecuted, after the emperor Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica and made Christianity the official religion of Romans, Christianity began to be largely supported by the whole European world. Feudalism later continued that role. With the Pope standing at the top of the feudalism pyramid, Christianity actually became the biggest political power in the Western world. As for Buddhism, even though it was also supported by some countries’ governments, it remained unacknowledged in most areas, and monks normally had no privileges above other citizens. Last but not least, the spread of Christianity included methods like war, which the spread of Buddhism did not, at least in East Asia. The Christian Crusades started in 1095 and continued to 1291, playing an important role in spreading Christianity.
 
In conclusion, the diffusion of Buddhism and Christianity from their origins to 1450 were similar in their uses of missionaries, trading routes, and religious buildings and were different from each other in their directions of spread, social status, and uses of political power.