Thematic Maps
A thematic map, or special-
purpose map, focuses on a
particular topic. The
movements of peoples, a
country’s natural resources,
and major battles in a war are
all topics you might see
illustrated on a thematic map.
Read the title to
determine the subject and
purpose of the map.
Examine the labels on the
map to find more
information on the map’s
subject and purpose.
Study the legend to find
the meaning of the
symbols and colors used on
the map.
Look at the colors and
symbols on the map to try
to identify patterns.
Read the questions, and
then carefully study the
map to determine the
answers.
The Spread of Buddhism
- To which area did Buddhism spread after A.D. 550?
A.Java
B.China
C. Japan
D.Champa
- The routes tracing the spread of Buddhism show the
great cultural influence that China had on
A.Mongolia and Vietnam.
B.Korea and Japan.
C.Vietnam and Korea.
D.India and Japan.
answers:1 (C); 2 (B)
Ajanta Sarnath
Anuradhapura
Lumbini
Khotan
Sanchi
Pagan
Angkor
Nanhai
Chang’an
Yungang Kaesong
Kyongiu Yamato
Putuo Shan
Dunhuang
Taxila
Borneo
Java
Sumatra
Ceylon
Chang
Jiang(YangtzeR.)
Ganges
R.
Indu
sR. HuangH
e(Y
ellowR.)
Meko
ngR
.
BrahmaputraR
.
Yellow
Sea
East
China
Sea
INDIAN OCEAN
South
China
Sea
Bay of Bengal
CHINA
MONGOLIA
NEPAL
CHAMPA
INDIA
TIBET
KOREA
JAPAN
c.^2
50
B.C.
(^3) rd
cen
tury
B.C.
(^1) st
cen
tur
yB.
C. A.D. 372
A.D.^552
c.A.
D. (^400)
c.A.D. 400
c.A.D.
(^400)
3rd century B.C.
A.D. (^1) st– 3 rdcenturies
Route of Spread
Buddhist site
0
0 500 1,000 kilometers
500 1,000 miles
Two–Point Equidistant Projection
N
S
E
W
S22
Notice that Buddhism
began in northern India
and next spread to much
of the rest of the Indian
subcontinent.
The labels identify the
important Buddhist sites
in South and East Asia.
STRATEGIES