Historical Foundations of PE, Sport and Fitness

1
Historical Foundations of PE, Sport and Fitness

• Ancient Societies - 1800

2
Ancient China

• Isolated
• Lacked military motivation
• PA was contrary to teachings
• The favored classes engaged in play
• Cong Fu gymnastics were developed to keep body in
  good organic condition.

3
India

• Lived a very religious life
• PA had little place in this culture
• Evidence does suggest some physical activity
• Yoga common activity

4
Ancient Near East (Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia,
Syria, Palestine and Persia)

• Lived full active lives
• PA and sport supported by military
• Egyptian youths very active
• PA stressed among upper class
• Persia had very strong army trained children
  beginning at age 6
• PA was geared toward militaristic aims not
  personal development

5
Greece

• Golden age of Physical Education and Sport was
  experienced in ancient Greece
• Strove for physical perfection
• Influenced their culture
• Played a major part in national festivals
• Helped to build strong military establishments

6
Greece-continued

• Evidence exists to support PA being popular as
  early as 2500 B.C.
• PA vital part of every boys education
• Body Beautiful was the intent not reward
• Sparta (a city-state in Greece) used PA to
  contribute to a strong army
• Women began training at age 7

7
Greece-continued

• Athens (city-state in Eastern Greece) was the
  antithesis of Sparta
• PA was as great but for body development,
  aesthetic value and rich lives
• Balance was important
• Athenian education systems were developed

8
Greece-continued

• National Festivals were important to the Greeks
  and were the foundation for the Olympic Games
• The first Olympic games were held in 776 B.C. and
  continued every four years thereafter until
  abolished by the Romans in 394 A.D.

9
Rome

• Romans extended their influence throughout most
  of the Mediterranean area and all of Europe with
  its military prowess
• Not interested in the cultural aspects of life
• PA was for health and military purposes
• Didnt believe in the BODY BEAUTIFUL
• Preferred to be Spectator rather than Participant

10
Rome Continued

• Sports were not conducted on the same level as
  the Greeks
• Physical and Moral decay brought the fall of the
  Roman Empire

11
Medieval Europe

• After the fall of the Roman Empire came a time
  known as the Dark Ages.
• A decline in literature and learning took place
• People of this time were PA-people of the earth
• Christianity grew and thrived

12
Medieval Europe-continued

• Monasteries were built where Christians could
  isolate themselves from the world and its evils
• Schools were attached to Monasteries
• Education limited to males
• Scholasticism had a major impact on PA

13
Medieval Europe-continued

• Feudalism appeared
• Son of a nobleman could either become a student
  of the clergy or a knight
• PA was greatly a part of training for Knighthood
• Jousts and Tournaments were special events that
  proved as tests for knights fitness
• Serfs participated in several recreational
  activities

14
The Renaissance

• Period of intellectual rebirth (14-16th
  Centuries)
• Philosophy of Humanism was developed
• Catholic Churchs influence on European Culture
  was profound.
• The Reformation occurred
• The late Renaissance brought the rise of science

15
The Age of Enlightenment (late 1600s late
1700s)

• Many educational theories and philosophies were
  developed
• Realism emphasized preparing students to think
  more rationally-scientifically sound principles.
• Some PA included in educational curricula
• Sports were not highly organized