Historical Comparison of Buddhism and Cynicism.

 Both philosophies developed during or soon after their societies experienced dramatic changes. At the time of the �creation� of Buddhism, India was experiencing major transformations. The fifth century B.C.E saw India having the intensive and widespread use of iron implements and a shift from essentially nomadic based economies to settled agricultural communities. Cynicism developed in Hellenistic Greece, which is dated from the death of Alexander the Great. The conquests of Alexander resulted in many different changes in Greek society. These included the disintegration of the polis, the overpopulation of Greece through Egyptian and Asian immigration and many different religious influences entering Greece.

 Both societies� economies were agricultural.

 Greek civilization at the time was generally urbanized whereas India was just beginning to experience urbanization.

 Despite the presence of some unrest in Greek society at this time, they were not experiencing the violent atmosphere that plagued Indian society at the time of Buddhism�s development.

 In the Hellenistic era in Greek history, large empires ruled by dynastic monarchs and great administrative organizations that heavily controlled many social aspects. Whereas, India in the fifth century B.C.E was ruled by much smaller, but �royal� dynasties.

 At the time of Buddhism�s development, religion and philosophy were heavily integrated into Indian society. Whereas, during the development of Cynicism, philosophy and religion were not as heavily integrated into Greek society. However, this is not to say that religion and philosophy did play an important role in Greek society.