As it says on the tin, what would change if Buddha did not become the enlightened religious figure of today, but instead remained a ruling Prince and then King.
Oh the butterflies with this one tho...
Much of Asian history will be reshaped.
I imagine Korea, Vietnam, etc would be much changed? Japan might remain the same, though more aggressive without the supposed pacifistic elements of Buddhism. And Thailand remains Hindu?
South East Asia will go full Hindu. India is not affected by Buddhism. This alone will have different results, like when the Islamic Turkic forces move to India. If I'm not wrong, Islamic missionaries had succes among Buddhist Indians after their tempels got destroyed by the invasions.
But most interestingly will be China. I don't know if Confusianism has ties to Buddishm. If it does it will be reshaped as well or be nonexistent. China might have its own Shintoist alike religion then.
And ofcourse if the Mongol expansion still happen, religions like Nestorian Christianity or Islam will have easier chance as missionaries. Whatever religion dominates Central Asia will affect the rest of Asia as well...
This is very true, Buddha not being Buddha does mean Ashoka never has that moment where he embraces peaceful doctrine I think, which has interesting consequences for him and his Empire. It could also change some of the archeitecutre and other such things within India.
Wasn't Taoism a thing in China at this point?
I really have no idea what the traditional religions of China are or when they came by. All I know is, no Buddhism = different China.
If Zoroastrians think sending missionaries to Asians corners is an option then they have a little concurrence.
From what I gathered, Daoism was definitely within China by the time Siddharta was around. Whether that would over take Confucianism or such, I am not sure.
It would certainly raise a very interesting possibility.
I think Islam would probably benefit the most from this since I don't think eastern branches of Christianity had much luck out in Central Asia, but whether it was because of Buddhism or bacause they never got there, I am not sure
Hinduism as we know it today was formed in response to Buddhism. (Well, and to a lesser degree to some of the other religious movements of the time, such as Jainism and others which have not survived). Without Buddhism, there would still be something that could be called Hinduism, but it would be distinctly different to OTL Hinduism.South East Asia will go full Hindu. India is not affected by Buddhism. This alone will have different results, like when the Islamic Turkic forces move to India. If I'm not wrong, Islamic missionaries had succes among Buddhist Indians after their tempels got destroyed by the invasions.
Tbf how many Hindus, and this is me speaking as one, really know what Hinduism truly is ahaHinduism as we know it today was formed in response to Buddhism. (Well, and to a lesser degree to some of the other religious movements of the time, such as Jainism and others which have not survived). Without Buddhism, there would still be something that could be called Hinduism, but it would be distinctly different to OTL Hinduism.
Hmm, would the empire last that long?There supposedly was a prophecy that Siddharta would become tiehr a great ruler or a fully enlightened man. If the latter is out, maybe we get Ashoka's united India 200 years earlier? And how will Alexander deal with it, instead of Poros' realm?
Hmm interesting, would Christianity or Islam even develop with a POD this early?
Hmm interesting though until about 600 Persia was largely Zoroastrian no?I figure so. Buddhism did not have any impact on the rise of Christianity or Islam.
The only I could see a change happen would be if Siddharta did become a great ruler and made the Indian subcontinent into a great Empire, which would threaten Persia. It might push some of the Zoroastrians up north into Central Asia and force Persia to deal with the religion.
Granted, this could also affect things liek Alexander so i don't know for sure
Hmm interesting though until about 600 Persia was largely Zoroastrian no?
Hmm this is true, I wonder could we see an earlier Persian v Indian warWell 600 AD yeah. But Buddhism was founded between 600 BC and 400 BC. If Siddharta really did become a great leader, a stronger India would have large ramifications on the Middle East, which would effect Rome as well.
Hmm this is true, I wonder could we see an earlier Persian v Indian war