Buddhism became prominent in merchant communities and then spread throughout the Mauryan empire through commercial connections and along trade routes. In this way, Buddhism also spread through the silk route into central Asia. India is a country in central Asia which, when the Mauryan empire goes to they spread and introduce their religion.
A After a horrible war with a neighboring kingdom, Ashoka became horrified at the bloodshed he had caused. He then gave up violence and became a Buddhist. Read here about the rest of his reign, during which he erected monuments and temples to the Buddha, spreading the faith and making Buddhism a world religion.
