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From the book “Sport in Ancient Times” by Nigel Crowther which is quite interesting and very well-written and documented.Many say ball sports like soccer, basketball, baseball, etc. began with the Chinese or even the Romans or Mesopotamians , but the invention of the bouncing ball began in Mesoamerica because of the availability of rubber. They played on teams, used "bats" made from branches, and even had a makeshift infield with bases and a homeplate. The only difference is that the losing team ended up being decapitated! 😮 Ah, nothing says America like a good ole game of baseball.(ancient sport is so interesting)
I would guess the players were either slaves or prisoners then? It seems far fetched to get people to play a game in which the price of losing is death unless they were compelled.
Apparently it was a religious display or ceremony. Good vs evil more or less and something about continuing the circle of life which was prominent in ancient Mesoamerican civilization (that's why there was so much human sacrifice). There are inscriptions and drawings showing a ballplayer holding up an opponent's head and there are other drawings showing knives and axes as part of the “equipment.”Just makes me think more and more that my hypothesis that sport has it's origins in religion is true.
I would argue less that sport has its origin in religion, and more that there was frequently an athletic component to religious ceremonies in ancient or primitive civilizations. I think it would be impossible to show that all sports can be traced to religious practices (it is widely known that modern basketball, for instance, can be traced to Dr. Naismith in the early 20th century). One question I would have for Crowther is whether there was really any legitimate connection between modern sports and rituals/practices like those in Mesoamerica. It's one thing to say that there was a particular ceremony that vaguely resembled our modern baseball. It's another to say that the roots of baseball were in this Mesoamerican ceremony.
I'm not really saying a particular sport is rooted in religion (rugby didn't come until the 19th century I think), but I think the whole concept of sport stems from religious practices.Crowther actually argues against this, or better yet, doesn't take any position on it. It really is a minority position among historians, but just looking at what I've studied so far (Ancient Olympics, gladiatorial games) and from this book and others, it sure seems that way.
It's one thing to say that there was a particular ceremony that vaguely resembled our modern baseball. It's another to say that the roots of baseball were in this Mesoamerican ceremony.
I don't see it as all that different from those who say modern day boxers, UFC fighters, or football players are rooted in gladiators and pankrationists.
Well, if it can be proved, then more to you…it's just that I think that such a position would come with a variety of dangers. I can explain my concerns if you would like. I'm not doing this to dissuade you or rain on your parade, but depending on how you phrase your thesis it could come off as being too “sweeping' and therefore not as convincing (IMHO, of course).I think that boxing is one of the most elementary of athletics, so the continuation with the past is much more likely...or is it simply more intuitive? Same for footracing. Where I see it as being more complicated is when you get sports with more complex rules and equipment.
Well, right now this is just a thought. I would love to do a Master's thesis or something on this in the future. If you can explain briefly (or if you want to go into depth that would be great. I just don't want to feel like I've wasted your time with something that's only a thought), I'd like to hear what your concerns are.Well even boxing, or a better example would be wrestling, has more complex rules (and equipment?) now. The role of referees or judges might be something to look further into as well. What I'm surprised to find is the level or spirit of fairness in these ancient sports, at least as far as Greco-Roman Civilation goes.
