Answer this question to the best of your ability:
In what regions did Mahayana Buddhism originate, and how has it spread to other parts of the world?
Mahayana Buddhism originated in India during the first centuries CE as a development of the earlier Buddhist traditions. However, it did not gain prominence until the Gupta Empire when its teachings were embraced by a broader audience. The religion then spread to Central Asia and China through the Silk Road, where it was adapted into various forms such as Chinese Pure Land Buddhism and Zen Buddhism.

From there, Mahayana Buddhism continued to expand its influence throughout East Asia, including countries like Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia. In the 19th century, it reached Southeast Asia with the colonization of Burma, Sri Lanka, and Thailand by European powers. Today, Mahayana Buddhism has a global following with practitioners in various parts of the world, including North America and Europe, where it has been embraced as an integral part of the broader Buddhist tradition.