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History of Vegetarianism Timeline
(c. 1500 BCE – Present)The history of vegetarianism spans thousands of years, beginning with religious and philosophical traditions in ancient India, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, which promoted ahimsa (non-violence toward animals). The practice spread to the ancient Mediterranean world through thinkers like Pythagoras and Plato. Vegetarianism declined in Europe during the Middle Ages but re-emerged during the Renaissance and Enlightenment, gaining momentum in the 19th century with the founding of the Vegetarian Society in 1847. The 20th and 21st centuries have seen vegetarianism grow into a global movement driven by health, environmental, and ethical concerns. More Less
Ancient and Religious Roots
Vedic period encourages vegetarianism
1500 BCE - 500 BCE
In the ancient Vedic period, although the laws permitted the consumption of some types of meat, vegetarianism was encouraged. Hinduism has been described as having the most profound connection with a vegetarian way of life and the strongest claim to fostering and supporting it.
Image source: Vegetarianism in Hinduism
Lord Parshvanath preaches nonviolence
900 BCE
Lord Parshvanath, the 23rd Jain leader whom modern historians consider a historical figure, lived in the 9th century BCE. He is said to have preached nonviolence no less strictly than it was practiced in the Jain community during the times of Mahavira.
Image source: Parshvanatha
Nonviolence toward animals established rule in Jainism and Buddhism
600 BCE
Jain and Buddhist sources show that the principle of nonviolence toward animals was an established rule in both religions as early as the 6th century BCE. All those sources were put into writing several centuries after the death of the Buddha.
Image source: Ahimsa
Earliest evidence for vegetarian theory in Greece
600 BCE
The earliest reliable evidence for vegetarian theory and practice in Greece dates from the 6th century BCE, marking the beginning of philosophical debate about meatless diets in the Western world.
Image source: Vegetarianism
Empedocles advocates vegetarianism
500 BCE
In the 5th century BCE the philosopher Empedocles distinguished himself as a radical advocate of vegetarianism specifically and of respect for animals in general.
Image source: Empedocles
Manichean Electi practice lacto-vegetarianism
300 CE
Among the Manicheans, a major religious movement founded in the third century CE, there was an elite group called Electi (the chosen) who were Lacto-Vegetarians for ethical reasons and abided by a commandment which strictly banned killing.
Image source: Manichaeism
Lankavatara Sutra advocates vegetarianism
400 CE - 500 CE
In the Mahayana school some scriptures advocated vegetarianism; a particularly uncompromising one was the famous Lankavatara Sutra written in the fourth or fifth century CE.
Image source: Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra
Tirukkural contains chapters on moral vegetarianism
500 CE
Tirukkural, dated to the late 5th century CE, contains chapters on veganism or moral vegetarianism, emphasizing unambiguously on non-animal diet (Chapter 26), non-harming (Chapter 32), and non-killing (Chapter 33).
Image source: Kural
Asian Traditions
Character for vegetarianism appears in Zhou Dynasty bronze inscriptions
1027 BCE - 771 BCE
The character associated with vegetarianism is first seen in bronze inscriptions from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1027–771 BCE), though it is likely older.
Japanese enjoy vegetarian-style shojin meals
700 CE - 1868 CE
During the twelve hundred years from the Nara period to the Meiji Restoration in the latter half of the 19th century, Japanese people enjoyed vegetarian-style meals.
Image source: Japanese cuisine
Key Facts
- Vegetarianism has ancient roots in India, where religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism promoted meat-free diets based on the principle of ahimsa, or non-violence toward living beings.
- In ancient Greece, philosophers like Pythagoras advocated abstaining from meat, believing in the transmigration of souls between humans and animals.
- The word 'vegetarian' was coined in the early 19th century, and the world's first Vegetarian Society was founded in England in 1847.
- Key religious groups, including certain Christian denominations like the Seventh-day Adventists, played a major role in popularizing vegetarianism in the Western world during the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Modern vegetarianism has expanded into related movements such as veganism and flexitarianism, driven by growing awareness of animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and personal health.
Source
This History of Vegetarianism timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
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