Chapter 2
Birth of Civilizations
The Transition From Endurance Predators to Farmers
Neolithic Revolution
• Characteristics
– The rise of “civilization” (about 10,000 BC)
– Domesticating Plants and Animals
– Sedentary Urban Sites
– Written Language and Record Keeping
– Political and Social Control
– The Neolithic Revolution took place at multiple sites
around the world not in just one location
– People transformed from hunter-foragers to sedentary
farmers and herders.
Neolithic Revolution and Health
• Revolutionary changes
– Positives
• Consistent Food Supplies
• Population Booms
• Civilized Society
– Negatives
• Increase in Sedentary Behavior
• Vitamin Deficiencies (shrinking stature, anemia)
• Communicable Diseases (increased population density)
• Longer Work Week (more hours)
Neolithic Revolution and Sport
• Development of Organized Sport and Physical Education
– Sporting Contests and Prowess (Demonstrating superiority in public
demonstrations of skills. Winning honor, status, and prestige through
athletic competitions).
• Trained the Warrior Class
– Prepared soldiers for the rigors of battle
• Signified the Power of Rulers
– Stone reliefs depicted the ruling class as superhuman athletes (the “Great
Man”)
• Rituals to Win Affirmation of Deities
– Mythology
• Mechanism to Build Community
– Developed communal identity and solidarity (spectator sports)
Tool and Jewel
• Distinguishes between metaphysics (what is
real) and axiology (value).
• Work (Tool) and Play (Jewel)
• Understand the reality of what has to be done
(metaphysics) in order to experience the value
of good quality of life (axiology)
Tool and Jewel
• Physical Activity as a Tool
– Utility / Work
– Metaphysics – Identifies what is real
– Regular PA Has Tool Characteristics
(Pp.53)
• Increases life expectancy, maintain health
and fitness, promotes healthy bone
mineral density, improves sleep,
enhances quality of life, etc.
Tool and Jewel
• Physical Activity as a Jewel
– Serendipity / Play
– Axiology – Identifies what has value
– Games, Sport, and Physical Play Have
Jewel Characteristics (Pp. 57)
• Increased aesthetic pleasure, greater
sense of satisfaction, increased self
efficacy and confidence, increased sense
of freedom, etc.
Tool and Jewel
• Holistic View
– Work (Tool) and Play (Jewel) are interrelated.
– Work and Play complement each other and are not
exclusive options.
– Work and Play are Complementary Pairs
• Play Includes elements of work and work includes elements
of play
• Activities with high tool (work) value will also have some
jewel (play) value.
– Opposite of the Dualistic View which states work
and play are mutually exclusive.