Ancient Recipes for War & Peace.

Ancient Recipes and the Link Between Diet and Violence.

The oldest written recipes were inscribed in cuneiform on four Babylonian clay tablets, dating back to approximately 1730 BCE. Surprisingly, their cooking methods remain familiar to modern kitchens, while their ingredients—much like today's—reflect a similar disregard for human health and ethical animal welfare. The tablets detail recipes for broths, pies, roasts, and stews, featuring fish, songbirds, ducks, other fowl, lamb, rodents, and even their blood.

Mirror, mirror… The Babylonians were a warlike civilisation sustained by a meat-heavy diet, much like modern militarised states, which also exhibited high per capita meat consumption.

The relationship between a nation's propensity for peace and its dietary habits is complex. Still, evidence suggests correlations between plant-based diets and more peaceful, egalitarian societies—historically and today.

Historical Examples.

Ancient India & Ahimsa: The rise of Buddhism and Jainism (6th century BCE) promoted vegetarianism as part of ahimsa (non-violence), influencing pacifist traditions. Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE) famously renounced war after converting to Buddhism.

Pythagoreans & Greek Pacifism: Followers of Pythagoras (6th century BCE) abstained from meat, believing dietary violence perpetuated societal violence. Their philosophy later inspired pacifist movements.

Seventh-day Adventists & Modern Peace Advocacy: This Christian denomination, known for advocating vegetarianism, has historically promoted pacifism and conscientious objection to war.

Modern Research & Trends

Global Peace Index (GPI) Correlations: Nations ranking high on the GPI (e.g., New Zealand, Sweden, Canada) tend to have higher rates of vegetarianism/veganism. Conversely, countries with high meat consumption (e.g., the U.S., Australia, Argentina) often have militarised cultures or colonial histories tied to livestock economies.

Causation vs. Correlation: While no definitive causal link exists, a pattern emerges: societies emphasising non-violence (ethically or structurally) often adopt plant-based diets, whereas militarised cultures tend to institutionalise meat consumption. The connection may lie in how food systems reflect broader values—empathy versus exploitation.

Historical & Anthropological Evidence

Ancient India & Ahimsa

The Edicts of King Ashoka (3rd century BCE) – Documents Ashoka's adoption of Buddhism and vegetarianism after renouncing war.

A History of Vegetarianism and Cow-Veneration in India (Frederick J. Simoons, 1994) – Explores links between Hindu/Buddhist non-violence and dietary ethics.

Pythagoras & Greek Pacifism

On Abstinence from Animal Food (Porphyry, 3rd century CE) – Details Pythagorean arguments that meat-eating fuels aggression.

The Pythagorean Way of Life (Iamblichus, 4th century CE) – Connects dietary discipline to harmony and non-violence.

Modern Studies & Data

Meat Consumption & Aggression:

"Meat and Morality: Associations Between Eating Animals and Societal Well-Being" (Ruby et al., 2012, Appetite) – Correlates meat consumption with cultural acceptance of hierarchy and dominance.

"The Psychology of Vegetarianism" (Rosenfeld, 2018, Current Opinion in Psychology) – Links vegetarianism to higher empathy and lower aggression.

Peace Index & Dietary Trends:

UN data show that countries with lower meat consumption (e.g., India, at around 4 kg per person per year) score better on non-violence metrics than high-consumption nations (e.g., the USA, at around 124 kg).

Ethical & Systemic Arguments

Eternal Treblinka (Charles Patterson, 2002) – Draws parallels between industrialised slaughter and systemic violence.

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