Buddhism and Hinduism - the central area of ​​both is northern India and each extends across the Indian subcontinent , but the two don't seem to extend in the same radius. Buddhism flourished and spread throughout Central and Eastern Asia; while Hinduism generally stayed close to home in India. The question now is why. The main region where these religions emerged is called "religious hotbeds", and these religions arose where great civilizations also did, in Mesopotamia, the Nile, and the Indus Valleys. (Park) “This hints at a more complex interaction between religion and culture, involving factors such as cultural innovation and diffusion, religious adaptation, and the exchange of ideas, beliefs, and values ​​along migratory and trade routes. » (Park) Hinduism originated in the Indo-Gangentic Heartland, located in the “plains of the northern edge of the Indian subcontinent drained by the Indus and Ganges rivers, where Buddhism also surfaced. Now, “once a religion is born, the quickest and easiest way to spread is through diffusion. » (Park) Thus, Hinduism spread from Afghanistan and Kashmir to Sarayu and then to Sutlej and Jumna. As it spread throughout the south and east, it was inevitable that the religion, as easily as a sponge, would soak up the different beliefs and practices of each region until it covered the entire sub-region. Indian continent. However, these different beliefs and practices, being located in a central radius, did not cause significant conflicts, which led to a fragmentation of the religion into numerous sects. Retaining the cultural aspects of Hinduism is the reason why this religion is termed as an ethnic religion. Buddhism, on the other hand, although diverging from Hinduism, was able to spread elsewhere...... middle of paper ... ...and in doing so they will be rewarded in their next life. Weber agreed with Marx that Eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, do not encourage people to change the world. (Monnier) Works Cited “Religion – Boundless Open Textbook”. Boundless. Np, and Web. May 22, 2014. https://www.boundless.com/sociology/understanding-stratification-inequality-and-social-class-in-the-us/consequences-of-social-class/religion/Monnier, Christine. "Religion." Global sociology /. PBworks and Web. May 21, 2014. https://globalsociology.pbworks.com/w/page/14711247/ReligionGascoigne, Bamber. “History of Buddhism”. History World. NP, 2001. Web. May 22, 2014. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/plaintexthistories.asp?historyid=ab77#ixzz31WT1QuZhPark, Chris. “Religion and geography”. (nd): n. page. Web http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/staff/gyaccp/geography%20and%20religion.pdf