index_bce_499


	==The Buddha is born (c.480 BCE): According to Buddhist tradition, in the Shaka tribe, living in the Himalayan foothills of southeastern Nepal (the early Buddhist heartland), a young prince is born who is called Siddhartha Gautama. Through early experiences, he realizes the true nature of life and suffering: Met Museum. [Routes]
	==the Buddha's teaching: The young Siddhartha Gautama begins to preach at Sarnath (Berger), near Varanasi. Soon he becomes known as the Buddha, the "Enlightened One": Sources of Indian Tradition.
	==Herodotus (c.450 BCE) becomes the first person whose writing about India has survived; his world perhaps looks like this: Henry Davis. He reports in his "History" (Columbia U.) that Darius used to receive more tribute from his Indian provinces than from any others; he also speaks of the valued presence of Indian troops in the Persian army; India as the Greeks knew it.
	==The giant gold-digging ants: Of course, Herodotus does report some very odd things about India as well. Among them are the giant gold-digging ants, in Book 3, Chapters 102-105 (Perseus); these ants are picked up by Strabo (see section 15:44) and Pliny, and become part of a body of legendary material that circulates in Europe till the medieval period (Munster). And now, at last, here's a theory to explain them: livius.
	==the Buddha's death (c.400 BCE): The Buddha dies around 400 BCE (L. S. Cousins). Within a few centuries, his religion becomes South Asia's most important cultural export. Remarkable stories about his many previous births also appear, in the form of narratives called "Jatakas" (IGNCA). Images: British Library.


	==The Buddha is born (c.480 BCE): According to Buddhist tradition, in the Shaka tribe, living in the Himalayan foothills of southeastern Nepal (the early Buddhist heartland), a young prince is born who is called Siddhartha Gautama. Through early experiences, he realizes the true nature of life and suffering: Met Museum. [Routes]
	==the Buddha's teaching: The young Siddhartha Gautama begins to preach at Sarnath (Berger), near Varanasi. Soon he becomes known as the Buddha, the "Enlightened One": Sources of Indian Tradition.
	==Herodotus (c.450 BCE) becomes the first person whose writing about India has survived; his world perhaps looks like this: Henry Davis. He reports in his "History" (Columbia U.) that Darius used to receive more tribute from his Indian provinces than from any others; he also speaks of the valued presence of Indian troops in the Persian army; India as the Greeks knew it.
	==The giant gold-digging ants: Of course, Herodotus does report some very odd things about India as well. Among them are the giant gold-digging ants, in Book 3, Chapters 102-105 (Perseus); these ants are picked up by Strabo (see section 15:44) and Pliny, and become part of a body of legendary material that circulates in Europe till the medieval period (Munster). And now, at last, here's a theory to explain them: livius.
	==the Buddha's death (c.400 BCE): The Buddha dies around 400 BCE (L. S. Cousins). Within a few centuries, his religion becomes South Asia's most important cultural export. Remarkable stories about his many previous births also appear, in the form of narratives called "Jatakas" (IGNCA). Images: British Library.