HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT
The terms Physical Education and Sport are used in reference to early historical
developments, with Physical Education typically used to refer to school–based programmes and
Sport used to refer to organised, competitive contest.
History enlightens us- it enables us to understand how the fields of Physical Education,
Exercise Science and Sport today have been shaped by the leaders and events of the past. History
guides us-it suggests future possibilities and courses of action that might be most effective in the
years to come. History is a field of study, focusing on the study of change over time.
History expands our understanding of society as well as Physical Education, Exercise
Science, and Sport.
In ancient times people engaged in physical activity and participated in sports for many
different purposes. During this time the growth of physical activity and sport was influenced by
religious beliefs, social class, geography, activities of daily living, and conceptions of the
relationship between the mind and body.
CHINA
Ancient China followed a policy of isolation. This country did not care to associate with
the rest of the world but instead desired to live unto itself.
The isolated existence of ancient Chinese was detrimental in many ways to a belief in
physical activity. Because they did not fear aggression, they lacked the military motivating factor
of being physically strong. The people of ancient China were mainly concerned with memorising
the works of Confucius and ancestor worship as part of their religious life. Individuality was
suppressed and all persons were destined to live a rigid and stereotyped existence, therefore little
room was made for organised Physical Education. Physical activity meant stressing the
importance of the body and individual freedom of expression, which were contrary to the
teachings of this ancient culture.
Despite the emphasis on intellectual excellence and the influence of Taoism,
Confucucianism and Buddhism, which stressed the studious, quiet and contemplative life, certain
evidence exist of participation in physical activity and sport activities in China. Many Chinese
classics tell of how the sons of rich families engaged in music, dancing and archery. Wrestling,
jujitsu, boxing, ts’ u chu (football), polo, tug-of-war, water games, ch’ui wan (similar to golf),
shuttlecock and flying kites were also popular. Thus the more favoured classes engaged in play,
but (it seems) the masses had little opportunity for participation in formal physical activities.
Interestingly, the Chinese thought that certain diseases were caused by inactivity. As a
result, history reveals that the Cong Fu gymnastics were developed in 2698 B.C. These were
medical gymnastics intended to keep the body in good condition. It was believed that illness
were caused by internal stoppages and malfunctioning of organs. Therefore, if certain kneeling,
bending, lying, and standing exercises could be performed, together with certain types of
respiratory training, the illness could be alleviated.
INDIA
Indian people lived an existence that was very religious in nature. Two of the major
religions were Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism stressed that the human soul passed through
several reincarnations before being reunited with Brahma, the supreme goal. The quickest and
most certain way to attain this goal was to refrain from catering to the body and enjoying worldly
things. The person who desired to be holy ignored the physical needs of the body and
concentrated solely on spiritual needs. Physical activity had little place in the culture of these
religious people.
Buddhism emphasized that right living and thinking, including self-denial, will help the
individual’s soul reach Nirvana, a divine state. However, Buddha’s ban of games, amusements,
and exercises in ancient India did not totally prevent participation in such activities. There is
evidence about pastimes such as dice, throwing balls, plowing contest, tumbling, chariot races,
marbles, riding elephants and horses, swordsmanship, foot races, wrestling, boxing and dancing.
Yoga, an activity common in India and involving exercises in posture and regulated breathing
was popular. This disciplining of mind and body required the instruction of experts, and a person
fully trained in this activity followed a routine involving 84 different postures.
ANCIENT NEAR EAST
The civilizations of ancient Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Syria, Palestine and Persia
believed in living a full life, including all types of physical activity. In these countries the
military provided the drive for physical activity and sport because they saw it as an opportunity
to build stronger and more powerful armies.
Egyptian youths were reared in a manner involving much physical activity. As young
boys they were instructed in the use of various weapons of war, such as bow and arrow,
battleaxe, mace lance and shield. They were required to participate in exercises and activities
designed to make the body supple, strong and capable of great endurance and stamina. These
activities included marching, running, jumping, wrestling, pirouetting and leaping. Before their
military training started, they had numerous opportunities to engage in many sports and
gymnastic exercises. They also found great enjoyment in hunting and fishing expeditions.
In the countries between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, great stress was placed on
physical activities, especially among the upper classes. The lower strata of the population found
few opportunities for recreation and sport and the upper classes indulged themselves in these
pastimes at regular intervals. Horsemanship, use of bow and arrow, water activities, and training
in physical exercises were considered as important as instruction that was more intellectual in
nature.
In Persia the main objective was building an empire through military aggression. A
strong army Persian army meant a healthy and physically fit army. By 529 B.C., the Persian
territory included the area that is referred to as the Near East. The success of Persia’s battles was
largely the result of the moral and physical conditioning of his soldiers. At the age of six the state
required all boys to leave their homes for training, which consisted of events such as running,
slinging, shooting a bow, throwing a javelin, riding, hunting and marching. The soldier had to be
able to travel without much food and clothing and was compelled to endure all sorts of hardship.
Where military importance existed, physical activity programmes were aimed at
imposing purposes. Strength, endurance, stamina, agility and other physical characteristics were
not developed so that the individual could live a full, vigorous and more interesting life but,
instead, so that the state could utilize these physical attributes in achieving its own national
military goals.
GREECE
Physical Education as well as sport experienced a “golden age” in ancient Greece. The
Greeks strove for Physical perfection, and this objective affected all phases of their life. It
influenced the political and educational systems, sculpture and painting and the thinking and
writings of that day. It was a unifying force in Greek life, playing a major part in national
festivals and helping to build strong military establishments. No country in history has held
physical education or sport in such high esteem as did ancient Greece.