Which religion spread through trade and missionaries?

• A. Hinduism.
• B. Judaism.
• C. Buddhism.
• D. Islam.

Answer: (C)

Trade routes and traveling teachers shape how religions expand. Buddhism is a classic example of this pattern. Born in India, it spread along the Silk Road and maritime networks, carried by merchants who exchanged goods and by monks who established monasteries, translated texts, and taught new converts. This mix of commerce and missionary work allowed Buddhist ideas to take root from Central Asia and China to Korea, Japan, and across Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, often with royal support that reinforced its spread. Other options don’t fit as cleanly: Hinduism spread mainly through cultural diffusion and royal patronage rather than a broad missionary network; Judaism expanded through diaspora communities rather than widespread missionary teams; Islam did spread via trade and missions as well, but its growth in many regions also involved conquest and political power. The strongest fit for spread through both trade and missionaries is Buddhism, with monks traveling beside merchants and establishing enduring centers of learning and worship across large parts of Asia.