Hinduism's Spread through History

Hinduism is often erroneously looked at as restricted to the subcontinent of India. However, historically Hinduism has been practiced throughout much of the world, and teachings of the same order as Hinduism have flourished everywhere. Hinduism has never formulated itself as restricted to a particular geographical region but as relevant to all beings. Nor has it frozen itself in time. It has continued to grow and absorb additional spiritual and cultural impulses into itself, developing in an organic way.

Hinduism has spread in three main waves through history. The first wave occurred during ancient history and prehistory. It is difficult to define but is clearly evidenced by the common language, culture and religion found from Bengal to Ireland among peoples speaking Indo-European languages.

Regions of ancient Indo-European culture consist of Europe (including Greece, Rome, the ancient Germans, Kelts and Slavs), Anatolia (Modern Turkey, until the Turkish invasions of the Middle Ages), Syria (the Mittani era, second millennium BC), Iraq (the Kassite Era of the second millennium BC), Armenia, Persia, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Western China (the Tarim Basin and further east), and North India (to the Krishna river).

In addition similar practices to the Hindu can be found in all ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, Babylonians, Sumerians, Chinese and Meso-americans with their common solar religions, fire offerings, and tripartite social system of priests, warriors and common people. This early phase of Hinduism, or Vedic culture, existed from perhaps as early as 7000 BC to as late as 500 BC.

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