The spread and localization of Buddhism and Islam into Southeast Asia E

The spread of trust first began through contact with neighbouring countries which gradually expand throughout the years. Buddhism and Islam are one of the most widespread religions crosswise southeastern United States Asian countries like Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Trade merchants and imperial support of the religion played as major factors which facilitated and localised the spread of Buddhism and Islam within various countries. However, there were limitations present which hindered the development of each religion in Southeast Asia as introduction of newer religions and changes within imperial power which would have modify their progression to become fully localised pre-1800s. After the death of Buddha more or less the 5th carbon, divisions within the religion began to grow due to differences in the variation of Buddhas teaching thus resulted in Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism (Bowker 2007, 140-141). Till this day, Theravada Buddhis m persists predominant in Southeast Asia. Theravada Buddhism focuses their beliefs on the personal liberation whilst Mahayana Buddhism regards itself on the teaching of blessing for every living being (Berzin 2010). The spread of Buddhism, mainly Theravada, first began rough early 3rd century BCE when Buddhist emissaries were sent to Indonesia and Burma by Indian emperor Asoka (Gosling 2002, 84-85). During and after his reign, his constant advocacy had sustained the faiths position throughout Southeast Asia, influencing his children to introduce Buddhism into Sri Lanka during the first and second century CE (Gosling 2002, 82) which spread across to Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam (Swearer 1997, 90). This was further developed due to the mussiness influx of Indian merc... ...ry CE when Muslim merchants, accompanied by missional Sufis, from India and Arabia arrived through the Indian Ocean trade route for business (Johnston 2002, 291). However, it wasnt until the 13th centur y when Islam began to spread across Southeast Asia from Sumatra through to coffee berry until reaching Borneo and Philippines in the 16th century (Houben 2003, 153). Trade was not the wholly purpose indicated from Muslim merchants as Sufis brought about the localization of Moslem organisations for Islamic teachings which would appeal to locals and their rulers for valuable networks (Johnston 2002, 291). This presence of Islam was recorded by Moroccan traveler Marco Polo in the late 13th century which indicated the advancement of Islam localisation where citizens of Perlak, Sumatra and the Pasai king, grand Turk Al-Malikus Saleh were already converted as Muslims (Mutalib 2008).