Topic 9. Baroque: History of Sports PDF

Didactic Unit V. Sport in the Modern Age Topic 9. Baroque History of Sports Prof. Dr. Alejandro Leiva Arcas Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Historical introduction The Baroque was an artistic, cultural, and social period that em...

Didactic Unit V. Sport in the Modern Age Topic 9. Baroque History of Sports Prof. Dr. Alejandro Leiva Arcas Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Historical introduction The Baroque was an artistic, cultural, and social period that emerged at the end of the 16th century and continued throughout the 17th century. It was a century of contrasts and social inequalities, but also of transformations and changes that laid some of the foundations of the world to come: Consolidation of absolute monarchies: The 17th century witnessed the consolidation of royal power and monarchical absolutism in countries such as Spain or especially France under the reign of Louis XIV (1638-1715). This power was exalted through great palatial constructions such as the Palace of Versailles. Crises and conflicts: The 17th century was plagued by economic crises and social tensions, worsened by major conflicts such as the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) between Protestants and Catholics that ravaged and destabilized much of central Europe. Scientific Revolution: As a counterpoint, the 17th century embraced the first major scientific revolution, which promoted knowledge and scientific understanding thanks to 2 advances in physics, astronomy, and mathematics by figures Palace of Versailles in 1668. Reformation The Protestant Reformation was a religious movement that began in the early 16th century when, in 1517, a young German monk named Martin Luther posted his “95 Theses” at the church of Wittenberg, criticizing the sale of indulgences by the Roman Church as a source of funding and calling for changes in ecclesiastical doctrine, such as: Recognition of the Bible as a source of religious authority. Elimination of intermediaries that “distract” from the relationship with God, such as the worship of Saints and Virgins. Masses in the native language. Achieving eternal salvation through work and sacrifice, rather than purchasing pardons through corrupt practices. Luther’s ideas spread across Germany and other European countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, and England, leading to the creation of new Protestant churches (Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican) and the fragmentationof Western Christianity. The Counter-Reformation was the Catholic Church’s response, with its central act being the celebration of the Council of Trent (1545-1563), where 3 the figure of the Pope and other religious authorities was reaffirmed. The Martín Lutero Division between Catholics (South) and Protestants (North) 17th Century 4  Sport after the Reformation and the Counter- Reformation Northern Europe Southern Europe In countries such as England, Holland, or The nobles of countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, the sporting phenomenon is France or Portugal show a refusal to promoted. practice sports in favor of easy pleasures. Sports betting appears. The nobility and Dancing, hunting, billiards and horseback bourgeoisie frequently engage in sports riding were the only activities with a sporting activities. dimension, all of which were more There is a concern for breaking records, recreational than competitive. establishing rules, and forming clubs to In the southern Europe there will be a decline participate in competitions. Fair play is in the expansion of sport that will not be encouraged. recovered until the 19th century. Indirectly, technique and tactics are perfected. In summary, the foundations of modern sport are laid. 5 Características del deporte en el Barroco Generally speaking, the 17th century is less rich in documentary sources on sport than the 16th or 18th centuries, and for many historians it represents a “gap ” in the history of sport, which is not even treated in many handbooks on the discipline. Even so, it offers interesting keys to understanding its evolution:  Sport began to move away from its function as military training and started to integrate into the social and cultural life.  Just like in previous centuries, sport continued to be practiced among people of the same social level, reflecting the stratification of the time.  Sport began to reflect and legitimize the leisure activities of the male elites, whether through betting and challenges(in northern Europe) or through the pursuit of the recreational (in southern6 Europe).  Physical Education in the 17th century 7 Physical Education in the 17th century The emergence of Science brought about a substantial change in education, which began to adopt a rationalist and secular approach. Educators of this era promoted the idea that human beings were something "natural", without innate evil and with the ability to improve their lives on Earth. Education also acquired a more practical than theoretical character, combining traditional subjects such as Latin, Greek, or literature with others focused on the holistic development of the individual, such as social skills, political knowledge, or physical education. Another notable aspect was the progressive inclusion of women in education. Although8 Jan Amos Comenio Uhersky Brod (1592) – Amsterdam (1670) A Czech theologian whose main contribution was the conception of physical education from a sensory approach. He distanced himself from the chivalric ideals of the Renaissance and rejected the teaching of fencing or horse riding, considering them too militaristic and of little use to the youth. He viewed physical exercise as a complementary part of the educational process, particularly for its benefits of clearing and refreshing the body, which improved the intellectual performance of his students —an idea that remains valid today. For Comenius, learning had to be built progressively, moving from the simple to the complex and from the known to the unknown. For many, Comenius is considered the father of9 didactics. John Locke Wrighton (1632) – Essex (1704) An English philosopher best known for his contributions to political thought, but with important contributions to the educational field. Locke promoted the idea that the mind is a tabula rasa or “blank slate” upon which any experience leaves a mark, including physical experiences.This was a novelty, as most pedagogical schools prioritized the soul over the body. For Locke, controlling physical experiences could directly influence the development of both the mind and the person. Locke was a dualist, so he viewed the soul and body as separate entities. For him, physical exercise was a means to revitalize the body and allow the mind to focus on more important intellectual activities. According to his vision, a good gentleman should devote 10 himself to serious studies and engage in exercise to René Descartes Le Haye(1596) – Stockholm (1650) A French philosopher and mathematician, father of the Western rationalist school. He coined the phrase “I think, therefore I am,” which summarizes the idea that the essence of the human being is based on its ability to think. He is known for his dualistic approach that separates the mind from the body, placing the former as the primary source of knowledge. For Descartes, the soul or mind was the true essence of being, while the body was a secondary component; a sort of “machine” that was subject to the laws of physics and mathematics. Descartes’ philosophy had a significant impact on education, and his legacy unfortunately harmed the perception of 11 the importance of physical education, Thomas Hobbes Westport (1592) – Derbyshire (1670) An English philosopher, father of modern political philosophy, although with significant influences on educational theory. The main idea of Hobbes was the materialist and monistic view of reality. For him, humans were material beingswithout a soul independent of the body, since the soul could not be observed or measured. Another contribution was determinism: the idea that all events or actions in the universe are guided by immutable laws. Therefore, free will or freedom of choice would not exist. These postulates had a direct influence on general pedagogy and on physical education in particular. The followers of Hobbes used physical 12 education and movement to shape and improve  Sporting activities in the 17th century 13 Costwold Games Also known as the “Cotswold Olimpick Games,” it is one of the oldest sports festivals in England. They were founded by the lawyer Robert Dover in 1612 and gained some popularity until his death in 1660. They were held once a year on the Thursday and Friday of Pentecost (between May and June) in a field in the county of Gloucestershire, where participants camped. The true motivations of Dover for holding these games remain unknown. Some theorists point to his belief that physical exercise was necessary for the defense of the kingdom, while others suggest a pursuit of personal financial profit. Regardless, it was one of the few sporting events that brought together people from all social strata. It had the approval of the Crown, and even members of the royalty participated on one occasion. The competitions included flat races and obstacle courses, high jumps and long jumps, various types of fencing, shot put, stone lifting, horse riding, wrestling matches, hammer throwing, horse races, tug-of-war, chess, and an activity called “shin- kicking” (kicking your opponent’s shins). The events were interspersed with dances, banquets, hunts, card tournaments, and betting. Many historians have seen the Cotswold 14 Games as an attempt Lacrosse Lacrosse is a game originally played by Native American tribes from the Great Lakes region (mainly the Mohawk, Choctaw, Huron, and Iroquois). It is a form of hockey where the sticks are topped with a small net used to hold and throw the ball. Originally, it was a team game with groups ranging from 100 to 1000 participants who could play in open fields spanning several kilometers, from sunrise to sunset. A rock or a tree was often used as the goal. In addition to being a sport, it had a strong ritual significance, aimed at strengthening young warriors and resolving disputes between tribal groups. There were few rules, often decided the day before. The first European contact with this game occurred with French Jesuit missionaries in 1630 in the Lawrence Valley (Canada). The name comes from the missionary Jean de Brébeuf, who gave it the name “le jeu de la crosse” (“game of the stick”). 15 Lithograph by George Catlin showing Indian Lacrosse players 16 Hurling A Gaelic sport originating in Ireland, with over 3,000 years of history, as there is evidence dating back to 1200 B.C.through the Middle Ages, where it was played in a chaotic, irregular, and extremely violent manner. It was in 1602 when the rules of Hurling were first described (known at the time as “Hurling to Goal”). Without losing its aggressive nature, the game was played on plains measuring 200 to 300 meters in length, with the winning teambeing the one that placed the ball in the goal. These rules also indicated numerical equality in the teams, the prohibition of playing the ball from the ground, and not passing forward. Today, Hurling is a sport of great popularity in Ireland due to its speed and spectacularity. The modern game consists of two teams of 15 players each. It is played with a wooden stick measuring 80 to 100 cm long called a “hurley”, and a leather ball the size of a fist called a “sliotar”. The goals combine those of soccer and rugby. Each goal 17  Curling Although there are references dating back to the 16th century, the first reference to curling dates to 1620. It is a sport of Scottish origin, initially played on marshes and frozen ponds. The word curling comes from “curr”, a Scottish verb meaning to turn, referring to the effect that players give to the stones. At first, smooth river stones were used, but in the 17th century, the characteristic handles were introduced. The stones were made from granite extracted from the islands in the west of Scotland, a tradition that has been maintained to this day (video). Curling emerged as part of Scottish rural activities as a form of entertainment during the long winter months, when agricultural activity ceased, leaving more time for recreation. As a game that did not require expensive equipment, it quickly spread through the rural community. Today, curling is an Olympic sport. The objective is to place eight granite stones, each weighing 20 kg, as close 18 as possible to a circular target located 45 meters away. Billards The origins of billiards are uncertain. The first table appears to date back to the reign of Louis XI of France (1461-1483). During the reign of Mary Stuart of Scotland (1542-1587), she requested that her billiard table be brought to her during her imprisonment, highlighting the nobility's passion for this game. However, it was during the reign of Louis XIV of France (1643-1715) that the game was refined thanks to the introduction of well-documented rules, as well as the inclusion of elements that have endured to this day, such as the cloth felt and the raised cushions. The name billiards comes from “billiard” (ball in French). In the 17th century, it was a game reserved for palace courtsand large noble houses. The original game consisted of two balls that had to be struck with mace-shaped sticks (the straight cue would arrive around 1800). The goal was to use caroms to introduce one of the balls 19 Billiards scene by Adrien Pietersz. 1620. 20  Pall-Mall Pall-Mall, or "garden billiards", was a very popular game in England and France during the 17th century and a precursor to croquet, except that, unlike croquet, the ball could not roll along the ground. Its name comes from the French palle-maille, which in turn originates from the Italian pallamaglio (ball-mallet). It was played outdoors on grass fields that could measure between 200 to 800 meters in length. The objective of the game was to strike a ball with a long wooden mallet through an iron hoop in the fewest strokes possible. It was a game that provided entertainment and relaxation while fostering skill, strategy, and dexterity. It was extremely popular among the nobility, who used their large gardens as playing grounds. Due to its popularity, the English Crown financed the construction of many gravel Pall-Mall courts, which gave the lower classes access to this sport and significantly increased its popularity. The practice of Pall-Mall began to decline in the 18th century 21 in Juego de ”Pall-Mall" entre Federico V y el príncipe de Orange, favor of golf, as more golf courses were being inaugurated. por Adriaen van de Fencing The 17th century was crucial for the development of fencing as a martial art, definitively transforming a military discipline into an art developed by great masters and schools with well-defined styles. In addition to the already mentioned Spanish school of Verdadera Destreza by Sánchez de Carranza and Pacheco de Narváez, other schools with their own identity emerged in the 17th century: Germany. It was promoted by masters such as Meyer and Liechtenauer. It continues the medieval tradition by focusing on the strength and hardness of the impact. Last school of the Modern Age to use two-handed techniques. It was quickly surpassed by the Italian, French and Spanish schools. Italy. With its epicentre in the city of Bologna. Notable masters were Marozzo, Fabris and Capoferro. His approach was that of a pragmatic, unadorned fencing, seeking speed in attack and defence. It was a direct inspiration for the French school. France. With leading fencers such as De la Touche, Thibaust and Besnard. This school emphasised elegance and technique, developing a light and stylised fencing that has influenced the modern fencing of today. England. With swordsmen like Swetman or Silver. It was developed apart from the others. It focused more on self-defence 22 and combat efficiency than on aesthetic aspects, so it worked on Golf In the 17th century, golf continued its process of evolution in Great Britain. During the 17th century, there are records of club and ball manufacturers. The first trips by nobles to play golf in other parts of England began to take place. In this context, caddies emerged: local youths who carried the clubs and used their knowledge of the terrain to advise the golfer and earn a small salary. The first golf course appeared in Muirfield, Scotland, in 1744, featuring an 18-hole design that has remained unchanged to this day. There is an unconfirmed legend that this number was chosen because it is the number of shots in a bottle of whisky. At the same time, in the Netherlands, the practice of Kolf continued to develop, now in open spaces taking advantage of the reclaimed lands won from the sea. Winter matches were also common, as shown in the works of Hendrick Avercamp. The Golfers on the Ice (1625), by the painter Winter Landscape with Skaters and Kolf Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634) Players on a Frozen Cove (1630), Hendrick Avercamp 23 Didactic Unit V. Sport in the Modern Age Topic 9. Baroque History of Sports Prof. Dr. Alejandro Leiva Arcas Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences