Is there a way to make Buddhism the Dominant religion on Earth? How plausible are these scenarios:
India doesn't revert to Hinduism, and since Buddhism lends itself more to missionary style conversions, Indians continue spreading the faith. "Indianization" of SE Asia in now on Steriods, and Indian missionaries are really active in Persia, Central Asia and beyond
Buddhism is adopted by a Hellenistic Kingdom to unite its people under a universalist faith. Buddhism plays the same role in the Hellenstic world as it did in Rome. In This TL , Rome itself might become Buddhist
A Militant form of Buddhism (Well, paradoxical? so was Germanic Christianity, the crusades and so on... since Buddhism is based more on controlling one internally than following a particular teacher, its beliefs can be even more malleable) takes hold in Central Asia. Genghis Khan is a convert. He forces "Warrior Buddhism" on his sons and subject. Mongol Invasions look more like the Early Islamic Caliphate. Batu, now religiously motivated, presses on to Europe. Heck, this version of Buddhism can even borrow influences from Islam itself.
--or--
Mongol Invasions go as usual (great if Batu invades Europe) but Buddhism is used as universial religion to hold the Empire together. The Mongols found monastaries everywhere, conversion is slow but steady
all of the above. India stays Buddhist, Sends missionaries to Hellenistic Kingdom, Greece, Central Asia, and many people who weren't Buddhist in OTL become Buddhist, spread the religion and we get a Buddhist World as a butterfly effect from a great portion of the World Population choosing that faith.
India doesn't revert to Hinduism, and since Buddhism lends itself more to missionary style conversions, Indians continue spreading the faith. "Indianization" of SE Asia in now on Steriods, and Indian missionaries are really active in Persia, Central Asia and beyond
Buddhism is adopted by a Hellenistic Kingdom to unite its people under a universalist faith. Buddhism plays the same role in the Hellenstic world as it did in Rome. In This TL , Rome itself might become Buddhist
A Militant form of Buddhism (Well, paradoxical? so was Germanic Christianity, the crusades and so on... since Buddhism is based more on controlling one internally than following a particular teacher, its beliefs can be even more malleable) takes hold in Central Asia. Genghis Khan is a convert. He forces "Warrior Buddhism" on his sons and subject. Mongol Invasions look more like the Early Islamic Caliphate. Batu, now religiously motivated, presses on to Europe. Heck, this version of Buddhism can even borrow influences from Islam itself.
--or--
Mongol Invasions go as usual (great if Batu invades Europe) but Buddhism is used as universial religion to hold the Empire together. The Mongols found monastaries everywhere, conversion is slow but steady
all of the above. India stays Buddhist, Sends missionaries to Hellenistic Kingdom, Greece, Central Asia, and many people who weren't Buddhist in OTL become Buddhist, spread the religion and we get a Buddhist World as a butterfly effect from a great portion of the World Population choosing that faith.