SOCIOLOGY OF SPORTSSOCIOLOGY OF SPORTS

CHAPTER 3CHAPTER 3

STUDYING THE PASTSTUDYING THE PAST

THE PASTTHE PAST

This chapter draws on existing sport This chapter draws on existing sport histories to focus o physical games histories to focus o physical games sport like activities:sport like activities:

1. Ancient Greeks1. Ancient Greeks

2. the Roman Empire2. the Roman Empire

3. Europe/Middle Ages3. Europe/Middle Ages

4. Europe/Renaissance4. Europe/Renaissance

5. U.S./Industrial Revolution5. U.S./Industrial Revolution

6. 1920s6. 1920s

Ancient Ancient GreeceGreece

Sports were:Sports were:Grounded in mythologyGrounded in mythology

Linked with religious beliefsLinked with religious beliefs

Characterized by: Characterized by: Gender exclusionGender exclusionFrequent violenceFrequent violenceAbsence of administrative Absence of administrative

structuresstructuresAbsence of measurements & Absence of measurements &

record keepingrecord keeping

Greek Mythology FactsGreek Mythology FactsGreek festival were linked with religious belief.Greek festival were linked with religious belief.

Olympia was chosen as the site of the games, and Olympia Olympia was chosen as the site of the games, and Olympia dedicated to the god Zeus about 1000B.Cdedicated to the god Zeus about 1000B.C

The games at Olympia were held every 4 years.The games at Olympia were held every 4 years.

The Olympia games became the most prestigious event.The Olympia games became the most prestigious event.

Women were not allowed to participate because they were seen Women were not allowed to participate because they were seen as inferior beings.as inferior beings.

The games were very violent and athletes were occasionally The games were very violent and athletes were occasionally maimed or killed.maimed or killed.

Roman Contests and GamesRoman Contests and Games

100BC – AD 500100BC – AD 500 Emphasized spectacle, Emphasized spectacle, combat, and the power of combat, and the power of political leaderspolitical leaders

Characterized byCharacterized by

– Diversions for the Diversions for the massesmasses

– Exclusion of women as Exclusion of women as athletesathletes

– Absence of Absence of quantification and record quantification and record keepingkeeping

ROMAN ERAROMAN ERA

Gladiator History - From Gladiator History - From Religious to Political EventsReligious to Political EventsGladiator History had Gladiator History had started with started with the provision of Gladiatorial Games the provision of Gladiatorial Games at funerals.at funerals. History then moved on History then moved on and the gladiatorial games were and the gladiatorial games were seen as a method to appease the seen as a method to appease the Roman gods and avert Rome from Roman gods and avert Rome from disaster.disaster.

The Ancient Romans who were The Ancient Romans who were responsible for staging such responsible for staging such events events grew in popularity, so the 'games' grew in popularity, so the 'games' became political events became political events by which by which prominent Romans could gain prominent Romans could gain popularity with the mob. By the popularity with the mob. By the first century A.D. providing first century A.D. providing gladiatorial games even became a gladiatorial games even became a requirement of some public offices. requirement of some public offices.

Roman Contests FactsRoman Contests FactsRomans used physical games and contests to train soldiers and Romans used physical games and contests to train soldiers and provide entertainment for the people.provide entertainment for the people.

Events like the chariot races and gladiators combat were held.Events like the chariot races and gladiators combat were held.

Wealthy Romans recruited slaves to compete.Wealthy Romans recruited slaves to compete.

Spectators bet heavily on the competition.Spectators bet heavily on the competition.

Women were allowed as a spectator but like the Greek not allowed Women were allowed as a spectator but like the Greek not allowed to participate.to participate.

Condemned criminal, captured Christians, and others were used to Condemned criminal, captured Christians, and others were used to fight animals in the arena.fight animals in the arena.

This is evidence of Women Gladiators This is evidence of Women Gladiators (Achillia versus Amazon)(Achillia versus Amazon)

Medieval Medieval EuropeEurope

Folk games played by Folk games played by peasantspeasants

Tournaments played by elite Tournaments played by elite for purposes of military for purposes of military readinessreadiness

Gender restrictions Gender restrictions grounded in religious dogma grounded in religious dogma and beliefsand beliefs

Games lacked specialization Games lacked specialization and organizationand organization

500 - 1300500 - 1300

Medieval Europe FactsMedieval Europe FactsGames & sport had a social-class difference.Games & sport had a social-class difference.

Knights and nobles participated in jousting, Knights and nobles participated in jousting, billiards, horseracing, hunting.billiards, horseracing, hunting.

Gender restriction were grounded in male Gender restriction were grounded in male centered family structured of the Catholic church.centered family structured of the Catholic church.

If women participated in games they had to be If women participated in games they had to be “lady-like activities.“lady-like activities.

Renaissance: Reformation, Renaissance: Reformation,

Increasing control over Increasing control over peasants.peasants.

Lives of many were Lives of many were restricted by laborrestricted by labor

Calvinist and Puritan Calvinist and Puritan beliefs did not promote beliefs did not promote any forms of leisureany forms of leisure

Games constituted Games constituted diversions for peoplediversions for people

Renaissance: Enlightenment Renaissance: Enlightenment Increased political Increased political freedom.freedom.

Sports combined with Sports combined with education and culture education and culture equals the equals the “Renaissance Man”.“Renaissance Man”.

Industrial Industrial Revolution:Revolution:Early YearsEarly Years

Organized, competitive sports Organized, competitive sports emerged, especially among eliteemerged, especially among elite

Time and space for games were Time and space for games were limited in urban areas.limited in urban areas.

New sports program and sports New sports program and sports began to developed.began to developed.

Baseball grew after the Civil Baseball grew after the Civil War.War.

Every town had a game of Every town had a game of baseball.baseball.

Industrial Industrial Revolution:Revolution:Early YearsEarly Years

He was the first, and no amount of revisionist history can rob Moses Fleetwood Walker of a historic distinction.In 1884, Walker broke through the invisible barrier that had stopped black men from playing "Organized Baseball," and he had achieved this historic first more than a half century before Jackie Robinson reached the Major Leagues. In fact, Walker's experiences were not significantly different than Robinson's were.

READ PAGESREAD PAGES75-76& 8575-76& 85

New Ideas New Ideas About Skin About Skin Color and Color and EthnicityEthnicity

LIMITED PARTICIPATIONLIMITED PARTICIPATIONGrowing emphasis on Growing emphasis on rationality and rationality and organization in society organization in society & sports& sports

Most sports were Most sports were segregated by social segregated by social classclass

Women’s participation Women’s participation in sports was very in sports was very limitedlimited

EARLY WOMEN’S EARLY WOMEN’S BASKETBALLBASKETBALL

Industrial Revolution:Industrial Revolution:Later YearsLater Years

Growing emphasis on rationality and Growing emphasis on rationality and organization in society & sportsorganization in society & sports

Most sports were segregated by social class.Most sports were segregated by social class.

Women’s participation in sports was still very Women’s participation in sports was still very limitedlimited

Women of the 1920sWomen of the 1920s

Elite, Competitive Sports Elite, Competitive Sports in the US: in the US: 1780-19201780-1920

Sport participation comes to Sport participation comes to be linked with character be linked with character developmentdevelopment

Organized sports were tied Organized sports were tied close to ideas about: close to ideas about:

masculinity and femininitymasculinity and femininity race and ethnicityrace and ethnicity age and disabilityage and disability

History Lessons: History Lessons: the othe origins of modern strugglesrigins of modern struggles

The modern struggles involve three dominant areas confrontation:The modern struggles involve three dominant areas confrontation:

– What is the meaning, purpose, and organization of sports?What is the meaning, purpose, and organization of sports?

Struggles over meaning – is soccer subversive?Struggles over meaning – is soccer subversive?

Struggles over purpose – is winning the only thing?Struggles over purpose – is winning the only thing?

Struggles over organization – can we play without a coach?Struggles over organization – can we play without a coach?

– Who plays and under what conditions?Who plays and under what conditions?

Struggles over involvement – can everyone play?Struggles over involvement – can everyone play?

Struggles over conditions – do I have to submit to a drug test to play?Struggles over conditions – do I have to submit to a drug test to play?

– How and why sports are sponsored?How and why sports are sponsored?

Struggles over need – do we really need funding?Struggles over need – do we really need funding?

Struggles over sources – what is better government or private Struggles over sources – what is better government or private finding?finding?

SUMMARYSUMMARYWhat sport event was the Roman known for? What was the status of women athletes?What sport event was the Roman known for? What was the status of women athletes?

Who was allowed to compete in tournaments in Medieval Europe? What were the Who was allowed to compete in tournaments in Medieval Europe? What were the sports?sports?

Which part of the Renaissance was consider the phrase “the Renaissance Man?Which part of the Renaissance was consider the phrase “the Renaissance Man?

What sport in America was played in every town?What sport in America was played in every town?

Who is Fleetwood Walker?Who is Fleetwood Walker?

Women began to play sports during what era?Women began to play sports during what era?

The modern struggles of sport involve three dominant areas of confrontation.The modern struggles of sport involve three dominant areas of confrontation.