9/13-14 Early Sports History

SPORTS- Games or Test of Skills undertaken primarily for the diversion of those who take part or who observe them (watch). Any play, pastime, exercise, game or contest performed 1. Under given Rules 2. Indoors or Outdoors 3. Individual or Team Basis 4. With or without Competition 5. Requiring Skill and Some Form of Physical Exertion Precise Origins are obscure---ALL CULTURES have known physical contests GREEKS- OLYMPIC GAMES ROMANS- SOME GAMES THAT REQUIRE MECHANICAL CONTRIVANCES OR THE USE OF ANIMALS (HORSE RACING, SHOOTING, ARCHERY, ETC. MIDDLE AGES- EUROPEAN SOCIETY--FEUDALISTIC SOCIETY WAS ISOLATED AND CHRISTIANITY-RELIGIOUS DOGMA OPPOSED THE USE OF THE BODY FOR PLAY ONLY CONTESTS BETWEEN KNIGHTS (MILITARY PURPOSES) WERE ALLOWED AND SUPPORTED. ARCHERY IS BIG IN ENGLAND. HE RENAISSANCE (14th to 17th Century) THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND HUMANISM (18th Century) GAMES AND EXERCISE GAIN RENEWED POPULARITY WEALTH AND SOCIAL CLASS TAKE OVER THE PREFERRED ACTIVITY UPPER CLASSES--POLO OR FALCONRY COMMONERS---LOWER CLASSES INEXPENSIVE, MASSED (TEAM) SPORTS TAKE SHAPE (SOCCER) MODERN GAMES INDUSTRIALIZATION (19TH CENTURY) THE SHIFT FROM LABOR INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE TO SERVICE ORIENTED/MACHINE AIDED JOBS IN FACTORIES HELP EXPAND SPORTS. PEOPLE HAVE MORE RECREATION TIME, ARE MASSED IN CITIES (URBANIZATION), AND SPORTS ARE SEEN AS A USEFUL RECREATION. MODERN ORGANIZATIONS SET UP TO GOVERN PLAY(LOCAL AND NATIONAL), EQUIPMENT IS STANDARDIZED, AND A DOCTRINE OF SPORTS BUILDING CHARACTER AND ENHANCING KEY VALUES LEAD TO SPORTS TO BE A NECESSARY ENDEAVOR FOR MEN. 1920s The Golden Age of Sports: Good Economic Times in U.S. Radio Newspapers---Add Sports Page