Historical context Advaita Vedanta

shankara lived in time of so-called late classical hinduism , lasted 650 1100 ce. era 1 of political instability followed gupta dynasty , king harsha of 7th century ce. time of social , cultural change ideas of buddhism, jainism, , various traditions within hinduism competing members. buddhism in particular influenced india s spiritual traditions in first 700 years of 1st millennium ce. shankara , contemporaries made significant contribution in understanding buddhism , ancient vedic traditions; transformed extant ideas, particularly reforming vedanta tradition of hinduism, making india s important tradition more thousand years.