Midterm 1 Flashcards
Explorers and missionaries
Give much of the information written that we know today, written in their language - probably Latin for missionaries and maybe Dutch or English for explorers
Neanderthal
Extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans in the genus Homo, who lived within Eurasia from 400,000 until 40,000 years ago. Not the oldest form of humans, few before them as well
Study of archeology of things they left behind example
Cave paintings
Atlatl
A tool that uses leverage to achieve greater velocity in dart-throwing and includes a bearing surface which allows the user to store energy during the throw, ancient weapon
Early games concepts
Dexterity, children’s games, competition - all forms of games. Could be held in entertainment or religious context (demonstration of competitive or physical skill and strength). Dance was one of the most common activity, large association with religion
Tarahumara
Indian tribe that lived isolated in the mountains, these people were known for their exceptional running ability. Were able to run long distances for days. Brought down the mountains to lower levels to run in marathons prospects, people figured they would do very well become of their high capacity - often complained the distance was too short
Baggataway
Religious context, included dexterity task. A form of lacrosse as played originally by the Ojibwe Indians
Tlachtli
South end of Mexico and top of Central America, form of basketball was played - potential origin of basketball (shoot ball into a hop-like structure). Association of religion context, entertainment. Included teams competing against each other. Some debate on how it was actually played - difference between missionaries’ opinions and archeological evidence
Kwakiutl
Aboriginal group in Australia that is indigenous to the Pacific coast off of what is now Vancouver. Competitive nature of their sporting games, activities were highly repetitive in nature that they played. Groups came together on particular occasions - celebrating religious context, reunion of families, celebrating harvest (with these events there were always sports or games that took place. Had an abundance of resources living in a lush, more easily sustainable environment than the Aussie Aboriginals (different values)
Aussie Aboriginals
Lived more in-land in Australia, not on the coast as the Kwakiutl tribe. They lived in a more harsh environment, less water and harvest. Almost opposite to Kwakiutl tribe. Less competition, more cooperation / team activities they engaged in to contribute their on-going existence and survival
Rosetta Stone
Origination from Egypt, one of th earliest evidence of writing is Hieroglyphics. Found with 3 different interpretations on it (different languages that allowed a better understand of Hieroglyphics, gives us a key of translation). Egypt was formed on a hierarchy with pharaohs and kings in control and servants being inferior with few in between the two
Tomb of Beni Hasan
Burial sight in Ancient Greece. Evidence of wrestling cult. Potential of entertainment purposes of combat. Hunting on foot or on the chariot. Information / evidence received from pictures and decorations within tombs
Crete
Island within Mediterranean Sea between Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. Influence of Egypt through hierarchy of high power and servants, few in between. Reformation of paintings or sculptures to give potential evidence through archeology
Minoa
Is the name of several cities on the coast of Greece and Italy, strong connection with the mythic king of Crete, Minos
The inhabitants of Crete
Were named Minoans by Arthur Evans, named after the legendary king
Sit Arthur Evans
English archeologists known for uncovering the Palace of Knossos. He defined Cretan scripts linear A and linear B. He terms the people of Crete to be Minoans
Minoans’ sports
Practice several sports including wrestling, bull jumping, acrobatics and boxing
Bull-leaping Fresco
An art work that was found in majority, other pieces (the white areas of the piece) were not located, found in the Palace of Knossos
Boy boxer Fresco
Another Fresco painting, not recovered on Crete, but from the island of Thyra, painting of 2 boys boxing (discovered in 1967, dated back to 1700 BC)
Details of these Fresco paintings
These paintings suggest a high importance of sport for Minoans and may have been a rite of passage
Seal stone
Rings that were sent to loved ones, message located inside
Linear A / B
This is the earliest form of writing that came from the Crete civilization. Two forms of writing - linear A and linear B. Interpretations took centuries. Linear A still hasn’t been deciphered to this day, but linear B is the basis to Egyptian writing. Writing of linear B gives huge lists of stores of olive oil, food, furniture, etc…gives evidence of the way of living of this time
Homer
Identified as a blind poet who lived around 700 BC, gave us an oral account of events passed on through generations before him. Provided information for events even 500 years before his time. Poet reciting of events, would have been done in Greek. Early tales of sport of Mycenaean Greece and the Athletic Festival
First translation of Homer’s writings
First translation written by Alexander Pope in old English
After downfall of Crete, there was a migration ..
North towards Troy and Greece. Certain pockets of settlement along Pelocentaresis
Greece vs. Crete
People of Greece were more competitive, more muscular than those of Crete. Traces of character that was in part similar to that of Crete but unique in Greece
Greece
Sea separated upper and lower Greece. Mycenaean culture of early Greece
Troy
Commonality across Greece an Troy - the language of ancient Greece as well as religion, and preoccupation of sport. Gateway to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, Troy was advantageous in its location between these (ports). Was one of the groups of confederation of early Greece states
Heinrich Schleimann
German merchant, passion of archeology, came into a great deal of wealth, one of the first to arrive at gold fields in the US and stroke fortune which he put into his love of archeology (used in excavations of Troy). Discovered many artefacts, many he took away from Turkey and took their place in German museums. Fragments of this collection act as proof of Troy’s existence. Gets credit for discovering Troy among the layers of Turkey and some of Homer’s works
Homer’s work
Much of Homer’s work takes place in Athens, even though he wasn’t from there. Two books including - Iliad (story of tribulations for war) and Odyssey (one of the great Princes in a travel to get home)
Chapter 23 of the Iliad
We see the battle of Troy and the attacks involved, many Greek Princes take part including Achilles and Patroclus on the Greek side and on the other side of Troy is Prince Hector. Prince Hector (son of the King of Troy) kills Patroclus, drags body to Greece and Achilles is furious and wants revenge, ends up killing Hector and drags body on the back of chariot
Achilles and the athletic festival
Achilles sets of celebrating of the Gods and his friend Patroclus and his death and sets up Funeral games - armed combat, bow and arrow shooting, chariot racing, wrestling and boxing. The festival gives prizes to the winners as well as those who do not win, these prizes are not symbolic but are of good value - gold, silver, meaningful and useful goods (not just trophies)
Homer’s writing of the athletic festivals - spectators and the Gods
Homer writes a lot of these events in his books and a lot of evidence comes from his passages. Spectators within the stands would talk about how some of the Princes or other competitors reminded them of others in earlier generations, therefore evidence that is not the first Athletic festival to occur. Athletes called upon their Gods for favours during these games to favour their activity and their skills (to enhance their skills). When an event would occur when chariots collided or another unexpected event, they believed it was the fate and actions of the Gods
Homer’s the Odyssey
Story of one of these athletes named Odysseus and his travels home from the Greek games, many tribulations and trials that he went through. Surviving shipwreck. Odysseus is scrawny because of his hardships but a city still takes him in and throws a banquet for him and then trains him as a discus thrower. He becomes the best discus thrower as shown from his victory over the King whom he challenged, the Prince throws it much further. He success makes others see him as God-like
Arete
Ethics reflected by the princes as they competed in the Athletic festival games - the funeral games. Arete means “quest for excellence” - this is the reason for competing in the Funeral games, over competitiveness and over the potential of prizes
Greeks view of Gods
Greeks see Gods as themselves but on a superior level. Arete concept, Greeks saw this as giving them a pathway to achieve almost God-like circumstances, raises them above other humans. Those closest to the door were said to have Arete
Arete for women
Women could have Arete as well - focused on being the best possible mother, wife, keeper of the home, education (to age 5) and well-being of the children
Two cities rose in power
Athens which is a port city in Greece and Sparta, these cities fought each other
Problems in the city of Athens
Resources to sustain population of Athens depleted below what they could handle, over time colonization took place across Mediterranean coast, around the Black Sea, along Turkey and Italy - huge stretch of Greek influence as this occurred with the spreading of their culture and religion
Spartans’ education
Education more of the physical than of the mind
Helots
Enslaved population around them in Sparta, Helots sometimes took up these young children abandoned that were not worthy of standard and helped raise them. The helots were members of a class in ancient Sparta, intermediate in status between slaves and citizens. The youngster was taught by the helots to be resourceful and courageous
Spartan pride
People born in society that displayed weakness were left to parish - cutting out negative impacts of this ill or weak individuals out of the population (because they had a population issue, too many people for their resources). A lot of pride within the town now a days - based on vision of legacy
Lycurgus
One of the political leaders, one of the better thinkers, statue of him within the city made by American sculpture (Greek body and Western head and hair). Commissioned by the elders to go outside the Greek world, went to Crete and parts of Egypt to examine the details of the education system here. He did not go to Athens for this
Spartiates
“Those who are alike” were the males of Sparta known to the Spartans as peers or men of equal status
Education System of Spartans
At age of 7, the boys were taken from the home and grouped into units - called herds, in a military-like base. From young age, Spartiates were trained for battle and put through gruelling challenges intended to craft them into fearless warriors. Teachings until around 18 years of age and this education system was controlled and quite rigid until they were ready to embark into military. Constant physical challenges (hand in hand with physical combat at the time) mastery of weapon use and hand to hand combat
Education System of Spartans - girls
Girls went through a similar program, not quite as violent, but still physically-focused. The girls were not taken from the home, they went home every night
The focus of the education system of Sparta
Ethnocentric - state-supported / state constructed education system
After the education system over 18 years
When you become 18 years of age, you graduated into about 12 years of mandatory full-time military service, could not be married. At 30 years, you passed from a military to Spartan citizen and only then could you get married and start a family
Women in Sparta - role in education
Women were the major property owners, main provider of education to their children u until age 6-7 years and often part in sports as well
Festival of Artemis Orthia
This is a festival to show how successful their education was in Sparta. This celebration involved a demonstration of how well the system was working. Included activity of the boys demonstrated which one could withstand pain for the longest without crying out. The winner who did not call out - was known as the altar-conqueror (supreme, prestigious title to have)
Sparta’s downfall of the education system
Focuses so highly on physical development of the body but not as much focus on intelligence and development of the mind
Education of Athens
The state only said that every child should be education, but education was not run by the state, it was a private system - described as egocentric
Palaestra
Wrestling ground, chief venue for the education of youth, included more than just physical education, also instruction and music and swimming (sea-located community where trade was a large thing). Palaestra would become the universities of ancient Greek - more mental / focus on the mind. Education system of Athens
Paidotride
Paid employe, a form of athlete who knew something about training and the body. Part of the education / training system of Athens
Palaestra and training
Palaestra eventually was abandoned once you got part your youth and then if you were an athlete you would train in a gymnasium
The body in Greek societies ..
Both in Athens and Sparta, the body was an important element of strength, athletic ability and beauty (particularly in Athens)
Olive oil in Greek culture
It was often traded and sold, olive oil was used after exercising to heal the body as well as before training for athletic performances
