Q:The difference between Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism
Buddhism is divided into two main religious groups Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism. These two religious groups both share a lot of similarities. But have a few differences. One of the differences is that Mahayana Buddhists believe that The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) is a God but Hinayana Buddhists believe that The Buddha was an ordinary Human.
One other difference between Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism is that Mahayana Buddhism followers think that all who trust in the Buddha will reach Nirvana. On other hand, Hinayana Buddhism followers think that only Hinayana Buddhists will reach Nirvana.
These were all the Major Differences now going onto the Minor Differences:
Hinayana Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism
Followed as a teaching or Philosophy. Followed with reference to higher beings, more like a religion.
Found mostly in the South and West covering Indochina and Ceylon (Sri-Lanka). Found mostly in the North and West, covering China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet.
Early work written in Pali (e.g. kamma, dhamma). Early texts are in Sanskrit (e.g. karma, dharma)
In conclusion, Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism both started of with one goal, Nirvana. But both took different ways to get there.