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The Sociology of Early Buddhism

Greg Bailey author Ian Mabbett author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:16th Mar '06

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The Sociology of Early Buddhism cover

An analysis of early Buddhism in social and economic contexts.

Early Buddhism flourished because it took up the challenge represented by buoyant economic conditions in the newly emergent Indian states from the fifth century BCE. This book begins with the apparent inconsistency of Buddhism, a renunciant movement surviving within a strong urban environment, and draws out the implications of this.Early Buddhism flourished because it was able to take up the challenge represented by buoyant economic conditions and the need for cultural uniformity in the newly emergent states in north-eastern India from the fifth century BCE onwards. This book begins with the apparent inconsistency of Buddhism, a renunciant movement, surviving within a strong urban environment, and draws out the implications of this. In spite of the Buddhist ascetic imperative, the Buddha and other celebrated monks moved easily through various levels of society and fitted into the urban landscape they inhabited. The Sociology of Early Buddhism tells how and why the early monks were able to exploit the social and political conditions of mid-first millennium north-eastern India in such a way as to ensure the growth of Buddhism into a major world religion. Its readership lies both within Buddhist studies and more widely among historians, sociologists and anthropologists of religion.

'It is a scholarly and objective study, despite the fact that it tends to underrate other opinions.' Expository Times
'This is a substantial work of scholarship, closely written, a mass of facts and arguments, with an impressive bibliography. It is certainly a useful compilation.' Bulletin of the SOAS

ISBN: 9780521025218

Dimensions: 230mm x 155mm x 20mm

Weight: 446g

296 pages