Leisure and Recreation in Ancient Societies

Introduction to Recreation and Leisure

• This week's topic is recreation and leisure, covering definitions, historical development and key motivators, benefits and barriers.

Learning Objectives

• Students will be able to define and explain the difference between leisure and recreation.
• Students will understand the historical origins and development of recreation and leisure.
• Students will identify motivators, benefits, and barriers of leisure and recreation.

What is Leisure?

• Leisure is free time spent as you see fit.
• Leisure is unplanned but not wasted time.
• It provides a chance for the body to rejuvenate.

What is Recreation?

• Recreation emerged in the late 14th century as “refreshment.”
• It originates from the Latin word “recreare” which means “to create again.”
• It's a purposeful activity that includes the experience of leisure, and often done for enjoyment.

Four Views of Leisure

• Classical View: Focused on activities performed for their own sake, and a state of mind derived from these activities.
• Symbol of Social Class: Leisure is a tool for flaunting wealth and power – Thorstein Veblen's Theory of the Leisure Class.
• Form of Activity: Non-work activity, often used for relaxation, entertainment, or personal development.
• Unobligated Time: Discretionary time as the most common definition for leisure, often referred to as the “residual” definition.

Historical Origins and Development of Recreation and Leisure

• Early Societies: Games and sports were often viewed as forms of sport, or stemming from warfare. Musical instruments were linked to religious rituals, early pottery, painting and drawings depicted daily life and cultural myths, and beads/jewelry served as social status and group affiliations. This is often linked to religious rituals or symbolic trials. Early societies often engaged in activities like Tlachtli, a Mesoamerican pre-Columbian ritual ball game. Boys learned warrior skills, and girls practiced household tasks, with both experiencing culture through storytelling, singing and dancing.

• Ancient Civilizations: Ancient Egypt involved sports for education and recreation, including wrestling, gymnastics, weights, ball games, and bullfighting, along with musical, dramatic and dance performances used for worship and entertainment. Complex orchestras and female performers were affiliated with temples and royalty. Assyrians and Babylonians engaged in boxing, wrestling, archery, table games and games like lion hunting. As early as the 9th century BC, parks existed for royal events and gatherings. The 9th and 10th centuries BC saw vineyards, fishponds and hanging gardens of Babylon.

• Ancient Israel: Included music and dancing for ritualistic purposes, social activities and celebrations; Early Hebrews also distinguished sacred dances. The Ancient Hebrews hunted, fished, wrestled and used weapons. Their major contribution is the Sabbath—a time for rest from work and worship.

• Ancient Greece: During the Golden Age of Pericles, Greeks excelled in arts, learning and athletics. The Athenian ideal of a balanced man was an artist, statesman, soldier, athlete and philosopher. Greek sports were sacred, and involved music, poetry, theater and gymnastics. The unity of mind and body through play was essential for children’s social growth and physical health. Music contests, poetry, presentations were offered, and athletic prowess was celebrated.

• Ancient Rome: Roman citizens participated in sports and gymnastics to keep the body strong and courageous. Games were held for worshipping Roman gods and later became festivals with utilitarian purposes. Their towns included public baths, open-air theaters, amphitheaters and forums for public gatherings; stadiums, parks and gardens were also established.

• Middle Ages: Hunting skills were important and were seen as preparation for war, and chess, checkers, backgammon and dice games were popular. Travel was safely possible, jousting emerged; and village feasts and sports included practical jokes, throwing weights, cockfighting, and bull baiting. People enjoyed sightseeing and travelled far for entertainment.

• Renaissance Period: Nobility became patrons of the arts – painting, sculpting, music, dancing, and dramatic arts. Dance and theater evolved into complex and lavish forms. Forms of play were part of education, and European towns developed elaborate gardens. Religious brotherhoods built facilities like clubhouses and for archery. Parks (royal hunting preserves, ornate parks, and formal gardens) and English parks were established and Leisure was often based on social standing.

• The 19th Century: Leisure and recreation were not immediately considered important over basic needs. A gradual expansion in popular amusement in the US resulted in traveling shows, including acrobats and jugglers, which transitioned to circuses. Free public education led to college sports as a campus based activity. Commercial amusement developed (i.e., dime museums, dance halls, shooting galleries, bowling, billiard parlors and beer saloons).

• Early 20th Century: City governments established municipal parks, creating recreation facilities. New forest preserves and protected sites like wildlife areas, playgrounds, parks, and public beaches were created . Commercial recreation expanded to include parks (theme parks), casinos, and wellness activities (like spas). Resorts emerged as one-stop destinations for recreation.

Motivators, Benefits and Barriers to Leisure and Recreation

• Motivators:

  • Physical: Body image, physical health, weight management, managing diseases, experience adventure and challenge.
  • Social: Friendship, reducing loneliness, social status.
  • Psychological: Stress management and relaxation, escape, and balance of work and play.
  • Emotional: Happiness, well-being, spiritual values and outcomes, intellectual outcomes.

• Benefits:

  • Personal: Physical fitness, fine motor skill development, confidence, positive outlook, stress reduction/decrease more positive self-image, problem-solving ability, tolerance, leadership skills, spiritual growth and calculated risks.
  • Social: Friendships, improved social skills, reduced alienation, new learning environments, strong family and community ties, promoting cultural harmony, group improvement.
  • Economic: Lower medical and job absenteeism, increased job stability and productivity, economic growth, community building, lower crime and vandalism rates, boosts tourism.
  • Environmental: Protecting environmentally sensitive areas, resulting in cleaner facilities, preserving cultural/historical sites, increasing awareness on environmental issues, improving community imagery.

• Barriers: Economic factors, perceived lack of physical or social skills, time constraints, work or family responsibilities, lack motivation, poor self-image, limited facilities, high user fees, occurrence, overcrowding, and location.