Vegetairian through choice?

[LaydeIsabella]

Any idea of the first record of vegetairism through choice? Is probably related to (a) religion (b) wealth or (c) if it's a fish, flesh or fast day?

[nathan]

At the risk of relying on wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of ... _antiquity

I have read a number of non-primary sources mentioning Pythagoras (yup he of the triangles) as being vegetarian as were many of his followers so i don't believe it's wildly innacurate.

N.

[TriciaT]

Besides Pythagoras in Greece, there is also the cultures of Asia. In reading up, it seems like vegetarians go way back in history in Asia. It seems to have ties with the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. As far as Western society and history, I believe Reverend William Cowherd is known as the founding father of vegetarianism. In fact, the word 'vegetarian' originated from him and his followers.

[Lin]

There's also the possibility of mutual cultural influences between Hellenistic Greece and Mahayana Buddhism and Hinduism, to a large extent because of Alexander the Great's conquests. Also contacts along the Silk Road in Roman times. Some people see links between Christianity and Buddhism as well. I've always found this an interesting subject and there's a good book I could recommend if I could remember the title!

NB Buddhism as I understand it does promote vegetarianism, but not harming other beings (or oneself) is the doctrinal viewpoint, which is a bit differerent.

Lynne

[Lin]

And Hi, Layde Isabella! Lovely to meet you at Tatton. x

[Grymm]

Thomas Tryon wrote the first English veggitarian cookbook late 17thC but, reading his many many self improvement books, he was an 'odd fellow'.

[gossip]

I've read loads of those things about buddhism and Pythagorus. But I also read that Sylvester Graham was one of the leading figures in the vegetarianism movement in Britain.

Do you think it's possible, however, that vegetarians actually existed in many places of the world without the idea originating from one place? I mean, do you think that somebody 'invented' not eating meat and then this spread or maybe there were several people who stopped eating meat and became popular for this in their respective parts of the world?