Due to the emergence of universal religions, a new idea known as syncretism began to emerge. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the idea of ​​syncretism as “the fusion or attempted fusion of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.” (Merriam-Webster) However, in historical terms, syncretism is defined as the accepted idea that was believed to increase people's willingness to adapt to or adopt a certain religion because of the attractive ideas. During the first millennium AD, two universal religions, Buddhism and Christianity, spread primarily through the idea of ​​syncretism, although a secondary factor contributed to the spread of these religions, which were political rulers and religious representatives such as monks and priests. a religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama and based on the foundations of attaining nirvana was initially spread by the activities of political rulers, monks and monasteries and later through syncretism. Syncretism played a role in the spread of Buddhism, but later in the millennium. King Ashoka of the Maurya Empire played an important role in the spread of Buddhism. He supported Buddhism and used it to strengthen his authority. He encouraged Buddhist missionaries to bring the faith to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, from where these missionaries went to North Africa. Other rulers contributed to the spread of Buddhism because they found ways to add status and a sense of legitimacy to their rule and as a result two types of Buddhism began to emerge. There were two types of Buddhism known as Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism was the accepted type of Buddhism, which was the part that made Buddhism a universal religion. Mahayana Buddhism...... middle of paper ...... about where religions spread to different parts of the nations. Buddhism spread to Southeast Asia, while Christianity spread to Western Europe. Both, however, shared a place where many of their ideas came from, India, which was key to the syncretism as India incorporated its tradition and values ​​into these religions. Both religions functioned as a result of political rulers using religion to strengthen their power, but also as a result these religions spread. King Ashoka used Buddhism for power, which led to Buddhism spreading, and similarly, the church used Christianity to strengthen itself and promote the religion. At the end of the first millennium, Buddhism and Christianity established themselves as universal religions thanks to the syncretism and activities of political rulers and representatives of the religion..