Some of you may say that the dates are contradicting here but the earliest dated recorded of vegetarianism comes from the 9th century BCE when Parshwanatha and Mahavira, the 23rd and 24th tirthankaras in Jainism
promoted tolerance towards all living beings the act was called Ahimsa or complete non violence.
In the approach Jainism adopted the most comprehensive and strictest form of vegetarianism. Not merely killing the living beings but not even thinking of hurting any creatures.
Since then in Indian culture, vegetarianism has been closely connected with the attitude of nonviolence towards living things.
Vegetarianism was also practiced in Egypt for purification purposes. 
Pythagoras and Plato were some of the first known vegetarians, as they abstained from meat, due to their beliefs and ethics systems that held large implications about society, due to consuming animals. Pythagoras believed all animals had immortal souls like 

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