Hermann Hesse was born in Germany in 1877 to an Indian mother and missionary father. Raised during the Romantic era in Europe-an artistic and cultural movement that emphasized a love of nature and beauty-Hesse felt a natural attraction to Buddhist philosophy because it promoted similar concepts. His personal ties to the East furthered his interest in both Buddhism and its founder, Siddhartha Gautama. Combining his interest in Buddhism with a personal curiosity about the meaning of life, Hesse wrote Siddhartha, which loosely traces Siddhartha Gautama's life and teachings and connects his soul-searching journey to that of all human beings.
Ancient India. In the fifth century B.c. India consisted of sixteen major states in the north. The region's southern parts remained largely undeveloped. Kings or chiefs ruled individual states and acquired income through taxation and trade. Typical goods traded during this period included horses, cotton, textiles, gold, iron ore, and pearls. The Brahmans, or religious leaders, held a very high position in each state. Often they had the authority to approve of the ruling class, and on some occasions they were rulers themselves.
