Veganism is a lifestyle choice that has been gaining traction recently, but its history dates back much further. Throughout the centuries, people have adopted vegan diets for various ethical, environmental, and health reasons. And as time passes, the reasons may vary, but the diet has followed the same basic principle: abstain from animal products! In this article, you will learn the history of veganism from ancient times to the present day, examining the various motivations behind this way of life. By the end, you should understand why people throughout history have chosen to exclude animal products from their diet.
Contents
The First Vegans On Record
The concept of dietary veganism goes back to ancient India, where Indian ascetics practiced it as part of their religious lifestyle. Some ancient Greek philosophers – including Pythagoras and Plutarch – have been credited with promoting vegetarian diets as far back as 500 BCE. The first known strict vegan in Western society was Dr. William Lambe, who adopted an exclusively plant-based diet due to health problems in 1806.
Lambe’s diet was a success – he reported that it cured his health issues and enabled him to live until he was 80. And while the word “veganism” wouldn’t be introduced for another 150 years, what Dr. Lambe was doing back in 1806 – only eating plants and drinking water – is exactly what most vegans do to this day.
The Creation Of The Word “Vegan”
As you just learned, many people have chosen to avoid animal products throughout history, and many of them were either referred to as vegetarians or simply ate a plant-based diet without a name for it. That was until the 1940s. The word vegan began with Donald Watson, an English animal rights advocate and environmentalist. He wanted to create a term that would represent a more humane lifestyle by abstaining from animal exploitation or cruelty – not just dietary choices.
In 1944 Watson founded the Vegan Society, and alongside his co-founders, he chose “vegan” as their label for those who followed this lifestyle. In its inception, veganism was only about diet – abstaining from all animal by-products such as meat and dairy – however, today’s definition has evolved significantly.
Veganism Through The Decades
After the 1940s, it took a bit of time for people to understand veganism. But as you will learn, the following decades brought major changes to the vegan lifestyle!
60s
The 1960s were a time of radical change and political upheaval. But amidst the social and cultural revolutions, something else was happening: veganism was on the rise. Although vegetarianism had been around in some form for centuries, it wasn’t until the 60s that veganism began to gain traction as an ethical lifestyle choice. And while people still credit Donald Watson with coining the term “vegan,” it took decades for this idea to take hold.
