As much as I hate to agree with the professor... but Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_economic_thought) says that the history of economic sciences stretches back to 500 BC. So at least there were at least proto-economists as far back as before the time of Jebus.
It's a little bit like calling Alchemists scientists. In any case, I would like to hear which 16th century mind argued for inflation, especially as currency was specie.
Economists now are still in the Alchemist stage. Its mostly just pseudo-science.