Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 1

"Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 1" by Charles Eliot is an early 20th-century historical exploration, offering a wide-ranging view of the progression and effect of Hinduism and Buddhism through time, with a special emphasis on their beginnings, changes, and influence in Eastern Asia. Eliot uses a scholarly style to examine the complex connections between these two major religions and starts his work by setting the scene for a broad study of the changing world of Indian religion, pointing out the difficulties in telling a clear story because of the large time period and geographical area that both religions cover. Eliot plans to look into not only how these faiths grew historically but also how they mixed together, especially as they moved past India's borders and changed to fit local customs. The first parts of the book create basic ideas about the nature of these religions and their ways of thinking, preparing for the more detailed studies that come later.