History of Veganism

Veganism is a lifestyle that excludes using or consuming any animal products or animal-derived products. This does not just extend to diet, but it also refers to choosing cruelty-free products for all clothing, toiletries, and household items, through boycotting businesses that test on animals and only purchasing items that are free of animal by-products.

While this may seem like a new concept introduced to mainstream society, there are actually traces of this concept as early as 500 BCE.

There were many cultures that were plant-based, such as in ancient Greece where abstaining from meat and eggs, known as the term strict vegetarianism currently, was called ‘abstinence from beings with a soul’. It is said that the earliest practice of abstaining from consuming meat came from Greek mathematician and philosopher, Pythagoras of Samos, who mentioned compassion for all species, and expressed his objection to the maltreatment of animals, along with his theorem about right-angled triangles. The followers of Pythagoras, also known as Pythagoreans were said to also not agree with the sacrifices of animal meat to the gods as a ritual.

Some other notable figures who also avoided animal sacrifice were the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, who thought it was a sin to take life given by the Aten god and banned animal sacrifice. Additionally, Japanese Emperor Tenmu prohibited the consumption of meat from cows, monkeys, horses, dogs, and chickens, which eventually led to a ban on meat that lasted 1200 years. This also came hand in hand with the influence of Buddhism in Japan, which introduced core principles of respecting life and avoiding waste, together with reincarnation among other living beings. This meant thatit was possible for those who eat meat to consume their reincarnated ancestors.

Meanwhile in other countries such as, India, the concept of vegetarianism is embraced in the religions of Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. These religions respectively encourage the practice of ‘ahimsa’, or non-violence to beings, which originates from the idea that all living creatures have divine energy. This practice was also centered around living purely and seeking spiritual enlightenment. Due to vegetarianism and veganism being heavily rooted in culture and religion, it is reported that in 2022, 24% of the Indian population is vegetarian, and 9% is vegan, which is around 574 million Indians who follow a meat-free diet.

More recently, the term ‘vegan’ was invented by Donald Watson in the 1940s, by combining the first three and last two letters of the word ‘vegetarian’. As previously, people who avoided products made from animals as well as animal-derived products were called non-dairy vegetarians. In the same year, he also founded the UK Vegan Society, of which in 1994 the president of this society designated November 1st as World Vegan Day, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the UK Vegan Society. In 1951, the definition of veganism expanded to those who did not support the exploitation of animal cruelty in all forms, not just food, and was the start of veganism becoming a lifestyle, instead of only being a dietary choice.

Currently, it is common to see vegan options in restaurants and industries producing meat substitutes which consist of ingredients such as tofu, portobello, mushrooms, etc. Veganism is also promoted as a way of combating climate change as livestock farming contributes to 15.4% of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, there are different types of vegetarianism established now, such as raw veganism, which is a combination of veganism and raw foodism, where people eat mostly uncooked and unprocessed foods excluding foods of an animal origin, as well as lacto-ovo-vegetarianism, which excludes the consumption of meat and fish, however, includes the consumption of meat and eggs. The word ‘lacto’ means milk and ‘ovo’ refers to eggs. Moreover, lacto-vegetarians and ovo-vegetarians also exist. People who eat fish, however, avoid meat and poultry, are known as pescatarians, and flexitarians are part-time vegetarians. Although commonly thought to be vegetarians, both are technically not considered to fall under the vegetarianism category due to the fact that they consume animal flesh. Finally, those known as ‘ethical vegans’ avoid activities that involve the use of any animal for entertainment, such as circuses or zoos.

Veganism is now regarded as a lifestyle choice and can originate from those who have an immense love for animals, and health conditions, or those who are conscious of the climate and its links to our dietary choices.

References:

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