Who made up Buddhism?

Buddhism is one of the major religious and philosophical
traditions in the world.  It began over 2,500 years ago in northeast India, with the
teachings of Buddha.

Buddha (563? to 483? B.C.) was son of
king Shuddhodana of Kapilvastu. He was named Siddhartha Gautama by his father.
Disenchanted by seeing the miseries of the world in form of old age, disease, and death,
at the age of 29, he gave up his princely life including his wife and son in quest of
peace and deliverance from miseries of life.

After
wandering, learning from other great teachers of his time, practicing asceticism and
seeking the the peace for 6 years, the right path or means of attaining true peace and
happiness in life dawned upon him with absolute clarity while he was meditating under a
tree on the outskirts of village Gaya.. This event is describes as reaching
enlightenment or realization as per Hindu philosophy and tradition. He was conferred the
title of Buddha, meaning the enlightened one, in recognition of this
enlightenment.

Buddha spent the next 45 years travelling
round northeast India preaching to people, and debating with many other religious
teachers. He spread hi teaching with the help of five men who became hi close
disciples.

Buddha was able o spread his teaching
considerably within Northern India during his life time. His work was continued after
his death by his disciples and a fairly well developed organization of monks. However
the credit for spreading Buddhism beyond India goes to a great extent to King
Ashoka.

King Ashoka (272?-232 B.C.) ruled the Maurya Empire
in India from about 272 B.C. until his death. He waged many wars to extend his empire.
However he conquest of Kalinga, in which his armies killed about 100,000 people 150,000
prisoners brought a sudden change in his life and thinking. Horrified at the Kalinga
carnage he renounce warfare, adopted Buddhism, which among other principles was based on
practice of non-violence. For the rest of his life played a very important role in
popularising Buddhism in India and many other countries.