Silk Roads’ spiritual identity: A historical overview on Buddhism and Islam

Indian society before the birth of Buddhism and Arab society before the birth of Islam share several characteristics, such as polytheism, the worshipping of idols and the existence of great social inequalities. The Buddha and the Prophet Mohammed were opposed to these. Both religions attempted to unite and find a balance between Eastern and Western elements, between the worldly, material side of life and its spiritual side, between the tangible and the intangible, the profane and the sacred. The Silk Road created a link between East and West and fostered the circulation of technology, cultural and religious influences. This interaction led for instance to the emergence of the Gandhara style during the Kushan dynasty.