The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE,
but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE.
Based on some archeological findings and inscriptions, Buddha was born in Lumbini, modern Nepal which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Other archeological findings postulate that Buddha was born at Kapilavastu at Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh, modern India or Kapileswara, Orissa, modern India.
He later taught throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala. Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni ("Sage of the Śākyas"), is the primary figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.
In Hinduism, he is regarded as one of the ten avatars of God Vishnu. He is also regarded as a god or prophet in other world religions or denominations like the Ahmadiyya Islamic religious movement and the Baháí Faith.