REC 265 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Chariot Racing
Document Summary
Leisure throughout history: leisure = thought/contemplation, poetry, math, helping others, liked/interested intellectual pursuits, but they also brought us theater and sports, leisure was for male born citizens, not for anyone else. Ancient china: leisure = family, work life balance. Muhammad"s early empire: leisure = relaxing. Ex: go to the pool, sit around. Not really thinking like greeks: not everyone enjoyed leisure, mainly for wealthy men. New world societies: leisure = ceremonial/spiritual. Medieval europe: leisure = sinful, working is what you should be doing 24/7. Ex: art, writing: people were free to create and pursue happiness. Ex: coliseum, chariot races, heated public baths, parades, rowdy theater, huge ball field games, athletics, mock battles: slaves built coliseum, not everyone got to enjoy it though, bread and circuses . Roman rulers wanted to keep people happy and not to revolt so they provided entertainment and food for the people: had 175 holidays every year, gladiators. Christian view: not very into leisure and recreation.
