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History of Veganism

By Pahim
  • 6000 BCE

    How did the popularization of veganism in the west influence its practice?

  • 500 BCE

    Pythagoras

    Pythagoras
    -He believed in the reincarnation of souls, and he thought he would come back as a pig, decided to become a vegetarian.
    -His diet didn’t gain attraction due to Greece believing that meat was the main food to fuel the athletes.
  • 300 BCE

    Theophrastus

    Theophrastus
    -Believed that eating animals was immoral and wasteful.
    -Assumed that people only began eating meat when acts of war destroyed their crops.
  • 250

    Porphyry

    Porphyry
    -Greek philosopher who wrote a letter entitled “On Abstinence from Animal Food”
    -“If however, someone should think it is unjust to destroy brutes, such a one should neither use milk, nor wool, nor sheep, nor honey."

  • Benjamin Franklin

    Benjamin Franklin
    -Credited veganism by giving him a clear head, more time to study and more money to buy books.
    -Noted that he was known as an inconvenience to others when it came to meals and was often scolded for his ideals

  • Early Veganism

    Early Veganism
    -The earliest concepts of veganism appeared around this time in Europe with Dr William Lambe and Percy Bysshe Shelly.
    -Amongst the first Europeans to publicly object to eggs and dairy on ethical grounds.
    -Difficult at the time due to lack of substitutes being available.

  • Donald Watson

    Donald Watson
    -Coined the term “Vegan” in 1940
    -Was a member of the Leicester Vegetarian Society, but felt like it did not accomplish enough.
    -Decided to create the Vegan Society in November of 1944 to create a community for vegans, the society aimed to persuade people to adopt a vegan lifestyle.

  • American Counter Culture

    American Counter Culture
    -Veganism surged as a counter culture to the United States that focused on the concerns about diet, environment, and a distrust of food producers, leading to increased interest in organic gardening
    -“Diet for a Small Planet” by Frances Lappé is one of the most influential books to come out at the time.
    -Being Vegan was more accepted at this time as a form of rebellion.

  • Animal Liberation

    Animal Liberation
    -Book was written by an Australian ethics professor, Peter Singer, which detailed the horrors and inhumane treatment of animals on farms.
    -Presented ethical arguments for not eating animals and experimenting on them, had a major influence on the scene.

  • Punk Veganism

    Punk Veganism
    -Veganism struck with punk fans due to it being a way to struggle against the horror and cruelty in the world
    -Some believe through their music, they can expose the brutality of the meat industry.
    -Many believed that “Being vegan is the ultimate form of rebellion”, its a way to go against the norm.

  • World Vegan Day

    World Vegan Day
    -Louise Wallis established World Vegan day on November 1st, 1994 as a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vegan Society.
    -Commemorate this day by holding potlucks, food festivals, and giving away soy milk and vegan baked goods.
    -Many of these acts lead to the designation of November as World Vegan Month.

  • Meatless Mondays

    Meatless Mondays
    -Revived in 2003 by Sid Learner, the campaign sought to improve the public's health and prevent illnesses that come from excessive meat consumption.
    -Grown to a global movement that has 750,000 instagram posts associated with it.

  • Earthlings Documentary

    Earthlings Documentary
    -A documentary that exposes the suffering endured by animals at factory farms, research labs, puppy mills and more.
    -Uses graphic imagery and disturbing content to show the viewer the horrendous treatment of farm animals
    -Inspired many films such as “Forks over Knives” and “Cowspiracy”

  • Vegunary

    Vegunary
    -A new non-profit organization created in the UK that encourages people to go vegan in the month of January.
    -Promotes and educates the public about a vegan lifestyle.
    -Wants to denote the stereotype about active vegans by creating a fun, lighthearted sense of a community

  • Plant Protein Month

    Plant Protein Month
    -Created as an opportunity for consumers, dietitians, and retailers to talk and share about Plant Protein
    -Aims to create a shift from an animal-based protein society to a more plant-based protein future

  • The Economist - “Year of the Vegan”

    The Economist - “Year of the Vegan”
    -The Economist predicted 2019 as the year of the Vegan.
    -Many companies like Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Mcdonalds are turning towards plant based products and vegan companies.
    -Plant-based “meats” could be a transformative technology which could improve diets and reduce CO2 emissions.