Historia de tres mundos: Cuerpo, cultura y movimiento. Reflexiones de cultura física.

Abstract

This book is encouraged by the purpose of reviewing the history of human physical activities and to consult the trends that old cultures and civilizations, such as the Chinese, Arab, Egyptian, Hindu, Greek and Roman, recorded on these aspects, without forgetting the pre-Columbian concerns that American societies had, especially south of the Rio Grande, from Mexico to Patagonia, among Aztecs, Mayas, Guajiros, Caribs, Guanes, Chibchas, Quimbayas, Quillacingas, Pastos, Ingas, Kampzas, Awas, Embera Chasis, Guambianos, Cocomas, Yanaconas, Pijaos, Motilones, Incas, Araucanos and others. In addition, it intends to expose the reactions of modern society with respect to exercise, games, gymnastics, sports, sports-sports, benefits and conflicts that are derived from these activities, sometimes with some deviation from their original principles, as well as from their strong and commendable influence on everyday life. We hope that this work will serve as a reference both to professors and students of social sciences and particularly to those who are dedicated to research on the thematic and problematic axes linked to the body, culture and movement, both in universities and among communicators and journalists in general or specialized; since it is mainly to them that we owe the great popularization and the powerful impulse achieved from the 19th century until now by physical activities and recreation, even if it was superficial -which is excusable if we consider that there are not properly specialized journalism schools in the subject-, although with interest, enthusiasm and perseverance. Finally, and simultaneously, it is also opportune to point out the lightness or abulia with which physical culture and sports activities were, and still are, looked at spontaneously, as well as those who with fervent interest and some naivety believe with charcoal maker's faith that such culture is the panacea.