Blood and Guts to Glory--a History of Sports: Sport Science Series

By Gerald Gems

Dr. Gerald Gems is one of the premier sports historians in the world. In this book, the first video text in sport history, we can see videos of how ancient and modern games have been played. But he goes beyond the sport, looking at the cultural background in which the sports have been played. We see ancient sports from China, India and the Americas and we follow the evolution of sports through the medieval days and the Renaissance and into England, the birthplace of modern sports. We then follow the development of sports today-- including the importance of sports for women and the globalization of modern sports. It is the most comprehensive and interesting book on sports history and is required reading for anyone who considers himself or herself a sports enthusiast.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Total Health Publications
• Release date: Jul 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9788293232872

Book preview

ISBN (epub) 9788293232872

ISBN (pdf)   9788293232889

MEET THE AUTHOR

Professor Gerald Gems teaches sport history at North Central College in Illinois. He is a former president of the North American Society for Sport History and is the vice president of the International Society for the History of Physical Education and Sport. He is also a member of the Professional Football Researchers Association. He is an internationally known speaker on the history of sport and has written several books in the area. He not only has the academic credentials of expertise but he has been a successful athlete and an experienced coach of football, baseball, softball, basketball and track as well as an athletic director. He is the recipient of a 2013 prestigious award for exceptional service by the North American Society for Sport History.

His expertise in the history of sport has given him the opportunity to research, teach, lecture and learnthroughout the world—giving him an unparalleled international expertise in the field of sport. He has been: a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Europe, an honorary member of the Bangladesh Institute’s for Sport Sciences, a Visiting Professor at Beijing Sports University and is a reviewer for the South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation.

You, the reader, will now profit from Dr. Gems passion and knowledge.

Reading a Video-Book

The text can be read anywhere but for videos to be seen, you must be connected to the Internet. The videos bring to light how ancient and modern sport has been played.

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Acknowledgement.

My thanks to Brian Hoffert, Professor of East Asian Studies at North Central College for proofreading Chapter 1 and correcting my errors.

Foreword

Currently, in the summer of 2014, sport is in the limelight, as the Football World Cup raises the interest and

emotions of the populations, not only of the participating countries, but worldwide. Without any doubt,

media sport has become a major factor not only in (sport) politics but also in the everyday lives of peoples.

With the increasing debates about health and wellbeing as well as the global wave of obesity, sport (for

all) has also become a movement with a global appeal . Today, sport is an activity and an issue of high

relevance in various contexts.

The new roles of sport and the current expectations with regard to the benefits of physical activities and

sport have to be addressed from a historical perspective and embedded in historical developments, as they

help to understand sporting values and practices in the past as well as today.

This book presents and discusses the huge variety of sporting practices in various cultures and different

time periods. It provides insights into pre-historic hunting cultures, the competitions in Greek antiquity,

conducted in the honor of gods, and the gladiator spectacles in the Roman Empire. The role of sport for

knights in medieval times, the physical education concepts in the 18th

and 19th centuries and the role of modern sport as a tool of politics and as mass entertainment are described and discussed in a way which is informative and entertaining at the same time.

Numerous pictures provide visual aids which support understanding. A particular feature is the provision

of links to videos e.g. of performances of unfamiliar sports, which illustrate the text and address different

learning styles. The inclusion of video material is a unique feature, not found in other books.

The author, one of the most prominent sport historians, presents historical facts and developments

according to the state of the art, but he is also a sport fan who shares his passion with his readers.

The book can be recommended for general historians, sport historians and the general public. It is also very

appropriate for use as a text book.

This book deserves a wide audience.

Gertrud Pfister

Professor

University of Copenhagen

Table of Contents

A HISTORY OF SPORTS

THE FIRST VIDEO-TEXT ON SPORT HISTORY

MEET THE AUTHOR

Reading a Video-Book

Chapter 1

Sport in the Ancient World

Sport in Ancient China

Sport in India

Sport in the Middle East

Sports in Ancient Egypt

Sport in Minoan and Mycenean Culture

Sport in Mesoamerica

Sport in Ancient Greece

Sport in Ancient Rome

Chapter 2:

Medieval Sport in Europe

Knightly training

Chivalry

Jousting

Field Sports

Tennis

Folk Sports

Italy in the Middle Ages

The Black Death

Chapter 3:

The Advent of Modernity:

Renaissance Europe

The Growth of Physical Education

The Protestant Reformation

Sport in Tudor England

The Enlightenment (1651-1794)

Sport and Nationalism

Chapter 4

England: The Birthplace of Modern Sport

Folk Sports

The Phenomenon of Football

Chapter 5

Sport in the United States

—A Transition in Sporting Culture—

The Development of American Sport Forms

Baseball

Football

Basketball

Volleyball

Ice Hockey

Intercollegiate Sport

Recruiting Athletes

Interscholastic Sports

Professional Sport

American Imperialism and the Spread of Sport

Pacific Region

Caribbean Region

Chapter 6

Sport and Female Liberation

England

United States

Europe

Asia

Mideast

Chapter 7:

Global Sport

International Governing Bodies

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA)

Sport Spectacles

World Baseball Classic

Cricket Test Series

Super Bowl

Indy 500

Formula One Grand Prix

Cycling

Adventure Sports

Fitness Competitions

Cultural Attractions

The Future of Sports

Sources and Bibliography

Sources

Bibliography

Internet Sources

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Chapter 1

Sport in the Ancient World

Physical activity has been a necessity since the dawn of man-kind as people traveled, hunted, and fought to survive.  Demonstrations of physical prowess eventually evolved into sports with individual and group competitions defined by rules and regulations. The Chinese are among the oldest civilizations with a record of sporting practices. They generally regarded contemplation and scholarship as more important than physicality;but sporting endeavors might teach necessary military skills andreinforce cultural values such as respect for authority and elders,the social stratification of society, male dominance, and properetiquette. Sports and games often included an important aestheticcomponent other than just winning the contest. Sports also providedan opportunity for gambling, a characteristic of Chinese culture.

Sport in Ancient China[1]

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Chinese sports can be traced back several millennia asdancers, acrobats, and runners are depicted on pottery andstone carvings from 8,000 to 2,000 BCE. One game, knownas jirang, required players to hit a grounded target at adistance of twenty to thirty paces in order to win a point.

Individual stunts aswell as lifting partners in exhibitions were tied to health practicesand recreational activities. By the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) music, dance, acrobatic displays, and even wrestling evolved into a form of gymnastics known as juedixi with public performances featuring single hand stands, inverted hangs from a pole or cart, and hand stands upon a tight rope.  Such stunts evolved into the sport of modern gymnastics andremnants of such early activities can still be gleaned in thecurrent daily practice of tai chi each morning among the urbanresidents of  the nation.

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As rival groups contended for territory and resources for

centuries martial skills became a necessity. Arrowheads dating back

28,000 years have been found in China, and Confucius, the great

philosopher (551 – 479 BCE), advocated the practice of archery

(shejian) as one of the Six Noble Arts (along with morality, ritual

dancing,  math, calligraphy, and driving hose carriages). Archery

required the practice of proper etiquette by bowing to one’s opponent

before the contest and sharing a drink afterwards. An archer had to

demonstrate graceful performance and was expected to lose in

deference an opponent of higher social status in order to demonstrate

respect.[2]

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The utilitarian activity of hunting with bows and arrowsand spears was eventually transformed into the sport of archery.

Some ethnic groups in China preferred the crossbow for hunting

and fishing, which the Chinese had invented as early as the 6th

century BCE.. Their contests (shenu) consisted of shooting at

targets consisting of corn cakes and parcels of meat, which the

winners get to keep as prizes.[3]Although not of military value, both men and women played agame known as touhu, in which they tossed arrows from varyingdistances into a vase. As the game became more spirited officials

were required for competitions

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Combative and equestrian skills assumed even greater importanceduring the Period of the Warring States (475-221 BCE).China was eventually unified by Shih Huangdi, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty in 221 BCE.Emperors and nobles later developed their own hunting grounds within their domains as a leisure pursuit in the transition from utilitarian activity to sporting practice during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE –220 CE), but archery remained one of the military exams until 1911.[4] Horsemanship was a necessity for armies and esteemed as a skill for nomadic herding cultures. Military training included the demonstration of archery skills and spear throwing on horseback.

In addition to the typical horse races which tested the speed and

endurance of horses, local events such as those in Mongolia,

known as saima, required riders  to maneuver a short course,

100 meters long, while grabbing ten silk pieces along the way

within twelve seconds.[5]

Description: Description: Horse Racing

Soldiers also had to travel distances rapidly and running abilities won esteem. The bodyguards who ran behind the carts of the nobility earned their positions through running trials. By the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) rulers conducted strenuous annual running tests for their guards consisting of a cross country race of 90 km. The winner received a silver disc, while other top finishers received satin pieces that designated their accomplishments.

Wushu originated in the use of weaponry to subdue wild

Animals, but during the Warring States eraand the development

of weaponry it required mastery of eighteen different types

of armament. Swordplay became a standard feature of wushu

and sword dances were later added. Performances and

competitions appeared in the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BCE-220 CE), and a system of imperial examinations developed under the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE)thatincluded both civiland military versions.Wushu academies  followed by the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644 CE) with divergent styles and practices.

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Another sport valued by the military also exhibited different forms. Chiyou tribesmen practiced wrestling by 3,000 BCE.  Some forms were similar to Japanese sumo, while those in Mongolia still favor their own version (Shuaijiao), which includes colorful costumes adorned with copper, silver, and silk. In the Mongolian form of the sport a village elder serves as the judge to determine illegal holds and selects the competitors, whose challenges are issued by singers. The combatants perform particular dances before engaging in an untimed bout of three rounds. Losers are eliminated from the tournament until a champion is determined.

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Professional wrestlers appeared as early as the Tang Dynasty(618 – 907 CE)toentertainimperialaudiences. Professional wrestling spread to the general population during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 CE) and national competitions were established.

Feats of strength always impressed others, and weight lifting competitions developed during the Warring States era with two versions. Qiao guan involved lifting a heavy door bar with one hand; while kang ding allowed a contestant to left a cooking vessel by both handles. During the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE)weightlifting became part of the testing of military cadets, and heavy stones weighing from 100 to 150 kilograms were used until 1911. Weightlifting among commoners took on the appearance of a folk sport as peasants also lifted heavy stones, extracted trees from the ground, and lifted deer they had killed for consumption.

Several other sports enjoyed popularity during the Tang Dynasty.  Both men and women engaged in swimming, and youths even challenged the high tides with their swimming and boating skills.  Dragon boat racing enjoyed particular favor in southern China.  The practice is believed to have originated more than 2,500 years ago as a ritual to honor a deity in Chinese religious  practice.[6] Spirited crowds followed the races during the TangDynasty and the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 CE) rulers used naval troops, whose review included dragon boat racing in the festivities. Winning teams won both fame and fortune, awarded with prizes and the adulation of cheering fans.

Equestrian skills had both a utilitarian and military purpose.  Cavalry troops trained on specially constructed fields and their exercises evolved into the game of polo (jiju) over many years.

The emperors of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE) were especially

attracted to the game, many of whom were participants. Both

rulers and other high ranking officials constructed polo fields

on their properties during that era, and women at the imperial court

during the Tang and Song Dynasties also played the game. The

emperor Taizong, who ruled from 976 – 997 CE, was an avid

player and he even staged a national tournament.[7]

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Another ball game, known as cuju, did not need horses to playand was accessible to males and females,as well as to the peasantry. It has a long history in China with records datingbeyond 2,500 years.  A cuju text on the game dates to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Similar to modern football, theball, which had an outer hide cover that encased an animalbladder, was kicked in avariety of ways.  Stone balls wereapparently used totrain soldiers in the Warring States period(475 BCE – 221 BCE) , but by the Han Dynasty, teams playedon a demarcated field with goals and referees. Another  version of the game developed during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE)in which the field was divided by a 12meter high net, whichhad a round goal or target attached above it. The net eliminated body contact and the team scoring the most goals was declaredthe winner.Femaleplayers appeared by 900 AD as an amusementfor the emperor who awarded the winners with prizes.  Femalesattempted to kick the ball higher and moregracefully or creativelythan otherparticipants. Another emperor’s attraction to small feet, however, allegedly initiated the practice of foot binding as thestandard forfeminine beauty, derailing any widespread participationinsport for women. There is evidence of professional femaleplayers, however, during the Yuan (1271- 1368 CE) and Ming Dynasties (1368 – 1644 CE).

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The game of jianqiu may have originated as a deviation from cuju as early as the 5th century BCE when a shuttlecock replaced the stone.  Made of corn and chicken feathers, players volleyed the shuttlecock with their hands. The game was later codified to include a playing field and feet rather than hands were used to propel the shuttlecock over a net that bisected the playing court, similar to modern volleyball.  Asian nations currently play the game, known as sepak takrawin the same manner, but use a rattan ball.[8] During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) women who worked in the palaces of the ruling class also played a game known as buda or chuiwan during their leisure time. Similar to modern golf, players used a stick to hit a ball into holes in the ground. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties (960-1368 CE) evolved into a competitive sport with specified rules, playing fields, and prescribed equipment.  It became especially popular among youth in urban locations.

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The ancient sport of tug-of-war, known as bahe in China, was often contested between villages in which both sides pulled on a bamboo pole, but by the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE), rope proved to be a better substitute. The activity differed from the modern version in that a greater number of villagers might hold and pull on multiple strands of the rope and drummers provided a cadence to exert their comrades.  In cold weather where ice formed in the northern territory residents constructed wooden sleds to slide upon the ice. During the QingDynasty (1644-1911 CE) athletic competitions in speed skating drew more than 1,000 participants, while figure skating contests required athletes to demonstrate the completion of a number of stunts on skates.  A game similar to modern football in which participants kicked a ball on the ice engaged numerous others. Such activities indicate that Chinese culture developed a wide range of physical and leisure pursuits long before the peoples of the western world.

Sport in Ancient Japan

[9]

Similar to China, Japanese sports developed out of utilitarian and

military activities, but generally at a later time. Sumo wrestling

can be traced as early as 23 BCE and matches were conducted

on an annual basis at the royal court by the 8th century CE with

as many as thirty-four wrestlers accompanied by musicians and

officials.  Sumo became a mainstay at religious shrines between

794 and 1185 AD.[10]

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While the sumo wrestlers entertained the nobility, the aristocrats

played their own game known as kemari, in which multiple players

used only their feet to try to keep a ball aloft, similar to the Chinese

game of cuju. Kemari appeared in Japan by the 644 AD and

enjoyed its greatest popularity from the twelfth to the nineteenth

centuries. It gained popularity among the lower classes before

it attracted the attention of the nobility, including a number of

emperors who took pleasure in the game.[11]

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Archery competitions occurred by the 7th century BCE, and appeared  at the royal court as early as 483 AD. Target archery, known as jarai, enjoyed the favor of the nobility as well.

Similar to the Chinese version, lesser participants deferred

to those of higher rank, and royal princes were accorded larger

targets in which to score their points. Archery contests on horseback,

known as kisha, had a distinct military function and