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Week 6 Article Review

In the Middle Ages, sports were seen primarily as a way to develop strength and endurance for warfare and were reserved for nobility as a display of status. During the Renaissance, physical education became important for developing both mind and body. From the Reformation through the Age of Enlightenment, views shifted toward individual fitness and a scientific, rational approach to the body and exercise, leading to new types of sports and training based on physiology.

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65 views

Week 6 Article Review

In the Middle Ages, sports were seen primarily as a way to develop strength and endurance for warfare and were reserved for nobility as a display of status. During the Renaissance, physical education became important for developing both mind and body. From the Reformation through the Age of Enlightenment, views shifted toward individual fitness and a scientific, rational approach to the body and exercise, leading to new types of sports and training based on physiology.

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yeyeye ye
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SPORTS AND CHANGING CONCEPTS OF THE BODY FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO

THE AGE OF ENLIGHTNEMENT.

The idea of sports and the human body has changed significantly over time. The

perception and practice of physical activity changed from the Middle Ages to the Age of

Enlightenment as a result of cultural, social, and scientific influences. This historical overview

will look at the influences of the Renaissance, Reformation, Counter-Reformation, and Age of

Enlightenment on how physical exercise and sports were viewed and practiced, as well as how

our understanding of the human body changed over these eras. In this essay, we'll look at how,

from the Middle Ages to the Age of Enlightenment, ideas about the human body have evolved in

connection to sports. We'll examine how, from the Middle Ages on, the primary objectives of

sports and physical activity were to develop physical strength and endurance until the Age of

Enlightenment, when they evolved into a means of enhancing general health and wellbeing.

In the Middle Ages, sports were primarily seen as a means of training for war and were

focused on physical strength and endurance. Sports in these ages were also reserved for the

nobility, and these activities served as a means of displaying status and wealth. Physical activity

was seen as a necessary part of becoming a strong and capable warrior. Religious and spiritual

beliefs had a significant impact on how people thought about the body at this time. Physical

activity was not seen as vital in and of itself but rather as a way to prepare for the afterlife, and

the body was viewed as a vessel for the soul.

As the Renaissance period began, the concept of education shifted towards a more

holistic approach, with an emphasis on developing the mind and body through physical

education. Physical education became an important component of a well-rounded education, and


it was considered that cultivating the intellect required a strong and healthy body. During the

Renaissance, physical training placed a strong emphasis on the development of grace, beauty,

and balance, as well as practical life skills. It also promoted health and disease prevention

through appropriate food, exercise, and hygiene.

During the Reformation, Counter-Reformation, and Age of Method, there was a change

toward a more individualistic and secular perspective of physical activity, which led to an

emphasis on personal fitness and the development of new types of physical activity.

Furthermore, the Age of Method offered a scientific approach to physical activity, resulting in

the development of new types of physical training and sports that were founded on scientific

principles and aimed to optimize performance. This transition was marked by a shift toward a

more rational and scientific attitude toward physical activity.

The scientific method and a stress on reason and rationality were prominent throughout

the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century. This resulted in a better understanding of the

human body and its possibilities, as well as the development of new kinds of physical training

and sports like gymnastics and organized team sports. During the Enlightenment, pioneers of

physical training like Bruhn, GutsMuths, Noverre, Jardin, and Hanon contributed to the

advancement of human physiology, anatomy, and kinesiology as well as the promotion of the

importance of physical exercise for both health and performance. They were also instrumental in

the development of the first public gymnasiums and physical education programs.

Sports and physical activity have been perceived and done in a variety of ways

throughout history. The body was transitioned from a religious or spiritual vessel to a physical

machine that may be optimized by proper training and exercise. From the Middle Ages to the
Age of Enlightenment, cultural, social, and scientific influences shaped its progress. The

Reformation, Counter-reformation, and Age of Method all played important roles in influencing

the transition to the Age of Enlightenment, resulting in the rise of new forms of physical exercise

and sports and a greater emphasis on personal fitness and the promotion of health and well-

being.

Reference: Demirel, D. H., & Yıldıran, I. (n.d.). The Philosophy of Physical Education and Sport

from Ancient Times to the Enlightenment. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL

RESEARCH, Vol. 2, No. 4, 191-202.

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