Buddhism promoted education and inspired literature, art, architecture and changes in Indian society. It rejected ritualism and the dominance of priests and encouraged equality.
Some cities became centers for Buddhist learning, and many beautiful Buddhist temples and paintings are still admired today. Missionaries eventually brought Buddhism to most of Asia. They also spread Indian culture and helped increase trade. Eventually Buddhism spread to China, Korea and Japan, giving large parts of Asia similar cultures. Today, Buddhism is even popular in Europe and the United States. Buddhist meditation classes help many people relax and reduce their stress after a hard day.
