---
product_id: 46410906
title: "A Concise History of Buddhism: From 500 BCE-1900 CE"
brand: "windhorse publications"
price: "150.39 DT"
currency: TND
in_stock: false
reviews_count: 8
category: "Book"
url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/46410906-a-concise-history-of-buddhism-from-500-bce-1900-ce
store_origin: TN
region: Tunisia
---

# A Concise History of Buddhism: From 500 BCE-1900 CE

**Brand:** windhorse publications
**Price:** 150.39 DT
**Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** A Concise History of Buddhism: From 500 BCE-1900 CE by windhorse publications
- **How much does it cost?** 150.39 DT with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Currently out of stock
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/46410906-a-concise-history-of-buddhism-from-500-bce-1900-ce)

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- windhorse publications enthusiasts

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## Description

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Illuminates Buddhism’s origins and evolution across its different schools as it diffused across Asia
  

*by A***. on Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2019*

For what I was looking for, I loved this book. Mr. Skilton explains the origins of Buddhism in India and its historical contexts, its early expansion and early controversies, its early codification of its canonical books and latter addition of commentaries, and its evolution as it spread across Asia.I thought Mr. Skilton did a fantastic job in what he aimed to do - provide an academic overview of Buddhist history and its evolution. I disagree with the other reviews who make negative mention of Mr. Skilton’s lack of explanation of scriptures - they’re commenting more on their incorrect choice of books than on Mr. Skilton’s success at his purported aims.The most insightful and enjoyable parts to me were: learning about the early Councils that codified its canon and teachings and respected the historical Buddha’s wishes to have no successor or single leader, learning that Buddhism died out in its homeland of India because of the Islamic invasions - royal patronage for lavish monasteries dried out and the lay people couldn’t distinguish it from the local and longer rooted Hinduism, understanding the differences in the beliefs and focuses of different schools (e.g. scriptural vs commentary focus, whether an external reality exists to ourselves or not, prayer and ritual vs meditation, personal relief from suffering vs relief for all living beings). Also I found the evolution of Buddhism as it spread across Asia to be fascinating - whether it was adopted by the lay people or used by royals as the state religion, whether scriptures came in Pali vs in translations in Chinese or other languages, missionaries from Mahayana vs non-Mahayana schools and who was preferred, and the introduction of Tantra into Buddhism late in the game, as well as the origin of the Dalai Lama.

### ⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Not for non-Buddhist readers
  

*by E***N on Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2018*

I bought this because I live in a Buddhist country and wanted to understand the foundations of their religion and culture a little more. I've had many conversations but wanted to piece it all together. I am having trouble getting through this book. The Author writes in a way that assumes the reader already knows terminology and things about Buddhism. Not a good read if you are starting from scratch because half of the vocabulary is unfamiliar to a non-Buddhist. I'm sure it's great if you already have a foundation, but it mostly just left me very confused.

### ⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    OK but not what I was looking for - too much Sanskrit
  

*by V***E on Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017*

Although I did get something out of this book, it is really written for the reader who is already quite familiar with Buddhism and wants to know more about it's roots. The Sanskrit words and pronunciation were just too frustrating and I quit about 2/3 of the way through. Not really what I was looking for, which was a readable historical account of the Buddha and Buddhism for the uninitiated.

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*Product available on Desertcart Tunisia*
*Store origin: TN*
*Last updated: 2026-02-07*