Presents a comprehensive historical survey of a range of Buddhist traditions throughout South Asia from the beginnings of the religion up to the present. This book discusses the rise of Buddhist monastic organizations and texts among the early Mainstream Buddhist schools.

Acknowledgements Abbreviations Map of South Asian Buddhist Sites 1. Formations: The Buddha and his Dharma 2. Foundations: Mainstream Buddhist Texts and Communities 3. Furcations: Origins and Development of the Mahayana 4. Consolidations: Medieval Schools of Thought and Practice 5. Reappraisals: Later Developments in the South Asian Buddhist World 6. Revivals: Buddhism and Modernity in South Asia. Appendix: Numerical lists of Buddhist concepts (in Pali and Sanskrit). Glossary Bibliography Index

'This book is a most welcome survey of the history of South Asian Buddhism, which fulfills the need for a comprehensive and accessible presentation of Buddhism in South Asia. Berkwitz’s clear presentational style and a range of periods he covers make this book relevant and accessible not only to scholars and students of Buddhism but also to everyone interested in the cultural and historical aspects of South Asia.' – Vesna Wallace, Numata Professor of Buddhist Studies, University of Oxford'An accessible and informative examination of the doctrinal, historical, and geographical development of Buddhism in South Asia ... In a succinct style, Berkwitz explores Buddhism's development in various communities as well as its mainstream texts ... To complement this fine survey, the author provides valuable information in the appended list of Buddhist concepts and an ample glossary of Pali and Sanskrit terms. Summing Up: Highly recommended.' – W. J. Pankey, William Rainey Harper College, April 2010 CHOICE'A smart, comprehensive survey of Buddhism in the South Asian countries of Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, as well as a valuable primer on recent scholarship on Buddhism in the region. Covering both ancient Indian and contemporary Buddhism in South Asia, the book manages to deal with a vast amount of information in only two hundred pages of text, plus an index and glossary.' – Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly, summer 2010