The question is too vague. No country universally abstained from eating meat throughout its entire history. Vegetarianism or near-veganism has been a significant cultural or religious practice in some regions or periods, but never country-wide and permanent. Therefore, it's impossible to name a single country that "did not eat meat". If the question implies which country had a culture of vegetarianism, the answer would be different. To provide a specific answer, the question needs clarification regarding time frame, prevalence, and context.
If the question is rephrased as: "Which country historically had a significant cultural or religious influence promoting vegetarianism?", then a response is possible.
In that case, here's a possible interpretation and response:
Ancient India and Ancient China both had significant vegetarian populations based on religious principles.
Ancient India:
- Influence of Religious Beliefs: Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism all advocated for non-violence (Ahimsa), which profoundly influenced dietary practices. Many followers adopted vegetarianism to avoid causing harm to animals.
- Cultural Impact: Vegetarianism became deeply ingrained in Indian culture, with varying degrees of adherence across different regions and communities.
Ancient China:
- Buddhist Influence: The spread of Buddhism from India to China introduced vegetarianism as a religious practice. The Buddhist code (Vinaya) discourages killing animals.
- Vegetarian Monasteries: Buddhist monasteries often maintained strictly vegetarian diets, and this practice influenced lay Buddhists as well.
- Limited Prevalence: While vegetarianism was present, it wasn't as widespread as in India. The dominant diet in China often included meat, particularly among the wealthy and in certain regions.
Therefore, while Ancient India had a stronger and more pervasive influence of vegetarianism due to multiple influential religions, both countries historically had populations practicing vegetarianism due to religious beliefs.
