1-3.Buddhist Patrons of Affluent Southern India
In the 2nd century BCE, after the decline of the Maurya dynasty, the Sātavāhana dynasty rose in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. During this period, India was linked by a complex network of trade routes, fostering lively exchanges stretching from Southeast Asia in the east to Europe in the west. The rapid spread of Buddhism to the southern region was supported by the economically thriving and inquisitive residents of southern India, who were eager for fresh ideas.