Considers the role of sport as practiced in several important civilizations in the ancient world, from Egypt to Persia, Greece to Rome.
Nigel B. Crowther is Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Western Ontario.
Crowther provides here the second volume in the Praeger Series on
the Ancient World, which is aimed at the nonspecialist and general
reader. Crowther's broad sweep includes the role of sports in
ancient Egypt and the Middle East, early China and Japan, and even
Mesoamerica. He focuses on Greek athletics (especially the
Olympics) and Roman contests (especially spectator sports) and
their use for political purposes, and he expands his discussion to
sport in the Byzantine Empire, particularly charioteering. Other
chapters emphasize social issues, and include a comparison of noted
Greek, Roman, and Byzantine athletes and a discussion of the
changing role of women in sport. Crowther's main themes include
amateurism and professionalism, fair play, crowd behavior,
politics, class, and sexuality. He includes a time line and a brief
annotated list of further readings, but no notes. Crowther seems
current with relevant sources, so one regrets his failure to name
the authorities he discusses. Excellent graphics. Recommended.
Lower-/upper-division undergraduates; general readers.
*Choice*
This book lays the foundation for studying sport within any number
of disciplines, exploring the games and competitions of ancient
society around the world in order to arrive at an understanding of
the forms sports take today….[W]hat distinguishes Sport in Ancient
Times from a rich, growing body of literature examining the
heritage of sport is that Crowther also explores the role of women
and the place of sport in China, Japan, and the Middle East, areas
heretofore given short consideration in sports historiography…. By
presenting evidence for sports in nearly every part of the world,
he provides substance for contemporary research. The writing is
clear and concise, and the solid bibliography includes easily
accessible books. Sport in Ancient Times is appropriate for
librarians from secondary through college levels, and, in fact, is
so illuminating that it should be required opening text for any
college course that deals with sports.
*Reference & User Services Quarterly*
Crowther provides a historical overview of sport as a cultural
practice around the world from about 3000 BCE to the Middle Ages,
mentioning nonphysical recreations and games occasionally but
concentrating on activities that embrace contests, skill, training,
energy, and fitness. The survey, organized by geography, discusses
such topics as early forms of polo and golf in China, sumo
wrestling in Japan, bull leaping and boxing in Crete, Homeric
descriptions of Ancient Greek sport, Roman gladiatorial combats and
chariot racing, and team ball games in Mesoamerica, among many
others. The range of themes that arise is similarly broad and
includes such issues as bribery, cheating, ideals, amateurism and
professionalism, violence, ritual, social class, tourism, and war.
Distributed in the US by the U. of Washington Press.
*Reference & Research Book News*
Although [Crowther] does not shy away from difficult concepts and
technical terms, he writes clearly and without excessive 'dumbing
down.' Realizing, however, that even college-educated readers are
liable to be a little hazy about the dates of Chinese and Egyptian
dynasties and the periodization of Green and Roman antiquity, he
includes a helpful set of 'timelines' (xiv-20).
*The Historian*
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