Exercises, sports and games compose the definition of athleticism. Almost all ancient cultures had a passion for competitive games because humans like to compete: throwing, catching, running and fighting games are most likely as old as humanity. In the timeline of athleticism, we have to wait until the development of settled communities to find any remains of these games.
The Olympics
According to the website for History World, wrestling is depicted in many wall paintings found in an Egyptian tomb dating to 1850 B.C. Many of the holds and falls shown in those paintings are still in practice today. The ancient Greeks developed the role of sport that occupies the modern world. Running races were the passion of the Greeks and they incorporated them into their culture whenever they could, including occasions such as funerals. These 200 m races eventually evolved into the Olympic Games in 776 B.C. and were held every four years. Chariot and horse racing, boxing, wrestling, the long jump, and throwing the discus and javelin along with the pentathlon were added to the games.
Team Sports
Polo originated in Persia in the 6th century B.C. and most likely had to do with the training of the Persian cavalry. Persian horsemen were an important factor in the expansion of the Persian Empire. When the Moguls took over India, polo went with them. The Moguls' cultural roots are Persian. The Moguls were renowned horsemen. On a wall in Athens, a sculpted relief shows six young men holding curved sticks ready to play as soon as the ball is released. This is believed to be one of the first references to hockey.
Modern Games
Bowls and bowling greens were developed in Scotland in 1299 A.D. and is still a popular sport in Scotland. Royal tennis was favored by royalty in France. Both bowls and tennis expanded into England and had many participants, particularly those who were of royal blood or wealthy. King Henry VIII, an avid player, built an outdoor court in 1532 A.D. at Hampton Court. It was replaced by one built by Charles I in 1625 A.D. and is still in use today. Tennis has never expanded to the extent of some of the other sports, but it still has a loyal following. Curling, very similar to bowls and basically the wintertime equivalent, developed in 1511 A.D. in Scotland and the Netherlands. It has continued to remain popular in northern climates as it is played on ice.
Women and Sports
Women were excluded from the Olympic Games, so they started their own, called the Games of Hera in 776 B.C. These games were also played every four years. The games honored the Goddess Hera who was said to rule over women. In According to History World, 1406 A.D., Dame Juliana Berners wrote the first article on fly fishing in Great Britain. Mary, Queen of Scots, was an avid golfer and coined the term "caddy." The famous golf course at St. Andrews was built at her request. The first woman boxer, Elizabeth Wilkinson, entered the boxing ring in 1772 A.D. in England. Alicia Meynell from England was the first woman jockey in 1804 A.D. Women enjoyed many sports, although many were not considered acceptable, particularly when the women beat the men at their own games. Croquet was the only game men and women played together in the United States starting in 1864 A.D. Women went up solo in hot air balloons, played lacrosse, climbed mountains, swam, rowed boats, played golf and tennis, roller skated, shot rifles, played archery, fenced and bicycled.
Modern Times
According to History World, prior to about 1475 A.D., ordinary people didn't have much time or energy for sports. Survival took much of their energy and time. Leisure activities such as dance and sports were reserved for feast days. The Industrial Revolution provided regular working hours so people used their free time for recreational pursuits. Some of these pursuits were sports for men, particularly team sports, such as rugby, soccer, football, baseball and basketball. Sporting events also became events unto their own, rather than connected to feast days. Women were finally allowed to be spectators. Large gatherings often caused social disorder. When children were no longer used for labor and instead sent to school, physical education was introduced to help keep them healthy.
