Buddhism is one of the world's oldest and most significant religions, spreading through most of Asia and influencing the many cultures there.
Buddhism had it's beginnings in India arise from the experiences of one person, Siddhartha Gautama, who came to be known as the Buddha, or the Awakened One.
Buddhism might have remained an entirely Indian religion if it weren't for an energetic king named Ashoka, who's plan to expand his rule over a large part of India naturally consisted of much fighting.
In the first centuries after the Buddha's death, in response to widespread and long-standing disagreements over the Buddhist teachings, many Buddhist schools and splinter groups arose. Although most of them died out, a few of them survived and crystallized into the great branched of Buddhism that we recognize today as Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana.