A History of Global Sport

Catalog description

Sport is a bellwether of human society: a study of its history reveals a given society's values regarding culture, gender, play, and politics. From its origins as both ritual and pastime, sport has transformed over time - most notably in the 20th century - into a significant and vital element of modern society, thus warranting a critical and decidedly non-trivial study. The study of the history of sport provides an opportunity to examine the intersection of race, business, national identity, gender and sexuality, class, religion, politics, economics, and popular culture. As such, this course examines the global phenomenon of sport viewed through a historical lens of inquiry and contextualization. Offered Alternate Years.