Here are some important people who helped shape early Buddhist ideas:

1. Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha):

   • He was born about 563 years before Christ.
   • At the age of 35, he found a deep understanding of life, which is called enlightenment.
   • He then started Buddhism, sharing his ideas with others.

2. Mahatma Samghabhadra:

   • He lived around the 4th century after Christ.
   • He played a big role in a group called the Sarvāstivāda school, helping to develop its teachings.

3. Nagarjuna:

   • He was important in the 2nd century after Christ.
   • He came up with the idea of Emptiness, which is a key concept in Buddhism.

4. Asanga and Vasubandhu:

   • They were active in the 4th and 5th centuries after Christ.
   • Together, they started the Yogachara school, which had a major impact on Mahayana Buddhism.

These thinkers helped shape Buddhism into what it is today!