Buddhism probably spread to the Maldives in the 300B.A serious study began to study the remains of the old maldives. Bell was shipwrecked on the islands in 1879 AD, and returned several times to investigate the ancient Buddhist ruins. Buddhism probably came from Sri Lanka.  A tall vase was found with a script. This text was in the same script used in the ancient Buddhist centres of learning.. There are also a dome shaped structure  in the Museum where the directional Dhyani Buddhas are carved in its four key points as in the Mahayana tradition. or portraits). These discoveries are displayed in the small National Museum in Male with other artifacts.

Buddhism became the trustworthy religion in the Maldives and enjoyed royal support for many centuries, probably as long as over one thousand and four hundred years. Practically all archaeological remains in the Maldives are from Buddhist dome shaped structures and all artifacts found to date display characteristic Buddhist iconography. Buddhist temples were Mandala shaped. It is positioned according to the four main points, the main gate being towards the east.

In the mid- 1980s, the maldivian government allowed a famous explorer see the sites of Maldives. The explorer guessed that all temples are Buddhist. There was changes in Buddhism to Islam before though, and the Maldives were peaceful to Maldives. However, a script found says  that monks were killed by cutting of their heads when they came to Maldives.

The age of colonial powers were the Portuguese, Dutch, and the British.The Maldives remained a British crown protectorate until 1952, when the sultanate was suspended and the first republic was declared.