Prof. i.R. Dr. Jens-Uwe Hartmann

Project

“Early Buddhism and its Urban Environment”

The emergence of Buddhism is associated with the second phase of urbanization in ancient India. In its self-representation Buddhism begins as a movement of wandering ascetics, but its success appears invariably connected to urban centres. The project focuses on this seeming contradiction, the interaction between large groups of Buddhist ascetics and the lay com-munities who maintain them, and the economical background of this relation.