Final answer:
Gautam Buddha, or Siddhartha Gautama, was born in present-day Nepal. His teachings as the 'Enlightened One' challenged the dominant Brahmanist values and offered a path towards achieving 'nirvana'. Buddhism spread beyond India under the Mauryan dynasty, reached its peak in India under the Gupta dynasty, and further expanded across Asia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gautam Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, was born in what is now known as Nepal, near India's eastern border. Prince Siddhartha later became known as the Buddha, meaning 'the Enlightened One', after achieving enlightenment following a deep spiritual journey that began with renouncement of a life of luxury. His teachings offered a compassionate alternative to the prevalent Brahmanist values, focusing on human suffering, desire, envy, and death, and providing a path towards achieving 'nirvana', the state of ultimate peace.
Buddhism spread far beyond India after Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty converted to Buddhism in the third century BCE. Despite setbacks, such as the invasion of the Huns, Buddhism continued to flourish in India during the Gupta dynasty, and eventually spread to other parts of Asia, such as China and Indonesia, through trade, religious conversions and diplomatic relations.
Overall, the birth of Gautam Buddha brought forth significant changes in the spiritual, cultural and socio-political landscape of India and subsequently, much of Asia.
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