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A young prince named Siddartha Gautama, was born around 563 BC in Northern India. As he grew older, he was in search for answers of Wisdom.

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He was born in the Kshatriya, a member of the warrior class, he never had to struggle with problems that a lot of people had to face, yet he didn't feel satisfied, he felt that something was missing in his life.

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Siddartha noticed that all the other people around were working hard and suffering. The people were grieving for their lost loved ones, he wondered why there was so much pain in the world. Siddartha began to ask questions about the meaning of human life.

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Siddartha left his home and family before he turned the age of 30. He left to find answers. This long lasting journey took him through many different religions in India, Wherever he traveled, he had discussions with priests and people known for their wisdom. Still, nobody had good answers to give to Siddartha's questions.

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Siddartha never gave up. Instead he became more and more determined to find the answers he was looking for. For many years he wandered for the search of answers.

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Siddartha devoted much of his time for meditation, which means the focusing of the mind on spiritual ideas.

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After seven weeks of really deep meditation, Siddartha finally found the answers he was looking for. He realized that the humans suffering came from three things:
*wanting what we like but do not have,
*wanting to keep what we like and already have, and
*not wanting what we dislike but have.

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Siddartha spent 7 more weeks meditating under his special tree, his followers named the tree The Tree of Wisdom. Siddartha then described his new ideas to his five former companions, his followers later called this talk the First Sermon.

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When Siddartha was about 35 years old he found enlightment underneath the tree. Ever since that he was called the Buddha, or the "Enlighted One."

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The Buddha spent the rest of his life traveling across northern India, teaching people his new ideas.

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As he traveled, he gained many new followers. Many of his followers were merchants and artisans, but even taught a few kings. They were the first believers in Buddhism, the religion based on the teachings of the Buddha.

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The Buddha was ORIGINALLY raised Hindu, and many of his teachings reflected on Hindu ideas. Like Hinuds, he believed that people should act morally and treat others well.

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At the heart of the Buddha's teachings were four guiding principles. These became known as the Four Noble truths:
1. Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. No one can escape sorrow.
2.Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material goods. People cause their own misery because they want things they cannot have.
3. People can overcome their desires and ignorance and reach nirvana, a state of perfect peace. Reaching nirvana would free a person's soul from suffering and from the need for further reincarnation.
4. People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an eight fold path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and salvation.

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There is a thing called the Eightfold Path. The Buddha believed this path was a middle way between human desires and denying oneself any pleasure. He believed that people should overcome the desire of material goods. They should, however, be reasonable, and not starve themselves or cause themselves unnecessary pain.

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1. Right thought: Believe in the nature of existence as suffering and in the Four Noble Truths.
2. Right intent: Incline toward goodness and kindness.
3. Right speech: Avoid lies and gossip.
4. Right actions: Don't steal from or harm others.
5. Right Livelihood: Reject work that hurts others.
6. Right Effort: Prevent evil and do good.
7. Right Mindfulness: Control your feelings and thoughts.
8. Right Concentration: Practice proper meditation.

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Some of the Buddha's teachings challenges traditional Hindu ideas. For example, the Buddha rejected many of the ideas contained in the Vedas, such as animal sacrifices.

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Buddhism continued to attract followers after the Buddha's death. After spreading through India, the religion began to spread to other areas as well.

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After the Buddha passed, about 500 of his followers gathered together. They gathered to make sure that the Buddha's teachings were remembered correctly.

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The Buddha's followers spread his teachings all throughout India. The ideas spread very quickly, because the Buddhist teachings were very popular and easy to understand.

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Within 200 years of the Buddha's death, Buddism spread through India.

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The authority of the Hindu priests (the Brahmins) got challenged by the Buddha. The Buddha did not believe that the Hindu's rituals were really necessary for enlightenment.

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Some of the traditional Hindu ideas were challenged by some of the Buddha's teachings.

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Many of the Hindu ideas were rejected by the Buddha. Like: the Vedas, and animal sacrifices.

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However, one of the ideas that the Buddha did not reject was reincarnation. The Buddha taught that the people who failed to reach the nirvana would have to be reborn time and time again until the people reached and achieved it.

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Hinduism started in India but not everyone agreed with it's beliefs.

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Some unsatisified people and groups looked for new religious ideas. One group was the jains.

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Hinduism also taught people that both men and women could gain salvation. But hinduism also stated that women were inferior to men.

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Women were not allowed to study the Vedas or any other sacred texts unlike men.

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Over the centuries, women have gained more rights.

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This change has been the result of efforts by influential Hindu leaders.