From Ancient History to Modern Times Quiz

PDF page 26: Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) is usually considered the “father of kinesiology” by being the first known author to describe animal (humans included) movement of walking by converting rotary movement into forward movement. Aristotle was also the first to describe the actions of

PDF page 26: Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) is usually considered the “father of kinesiology” by being the first known author to describe animal (humans included) movement of walking by converting rotary movement into forward movement. Aristotle was also the first to describe the actions of

PDF page 26: For the young men of ancient Greece, visiting the gymnasium was not a simple leisurely pursuit but an integral part of their education. Indeed, Anacharsis – a Scythian philosopher and traveler who visited Greece – reportedly said, “In every city of the Greeks there is a designated place where they go mad daily. I mean the gymnasium.” Although the idea seemed unorthodox to the other ancient cultures, the Greeks believed that exercise was crucial for what we would now call well-being. The ancient Greek historian Diodorus spoke of gymnasia and temples as

PDF page 26: things that “...contribute to making happy the life of man.” Additionally, to be visibly fit and healthy was a moral virtue in Greece. This concept is depicted in Grecian art, where the athletes are commonly portrayed as naked. To be naked was to be in the most heroic of states.

PDF page 26: In the fifth century BCE, the father of medicine, Hippocrates, warned that “...eating healthily by itself will not keep a man well; he must also have physical exercise.” Hippocrates built the foundations of Greek medicine, and the Roman Galen, a prominent physician, writer, and philosopher, took his ideas further. Galen used Hippocrates’ teaching to systemize knowledge

PDF page 26: In the fifth century BCE, the father of medicine, Hippocrates, warned that “...eating healthily by itself will not keep a man well; he must also have physical exercise.” Hippocrates built the foundations of Greek medicine, and the Roman Galen, a prominent physician, writer, and philosopher, took his ideas further. Galen used Hippocrates’ teaching to systemize knowledge

PDF page 27: of the human body, including the body’s function during exercise. He observed, “To me, it does not seem that all [bodily] movement is exercise, but only when it is vigorous; but since vigor is relative, the same movement might be exercise for one and not for another.” He even noted that while exercise cannot stop the aging process, it can certainly delay it.

PDF page 27: of the human body, including the body’s function during exercise. He observed, “To me, it does not seem that all [bodily] movement is exercise, but only when it is vigorous; but since vigor is relative, the same movement might be exercise for one and not for another.” He even noted that while exercise cannot stop the aging process, it can certainly delay it.

PDF page 27: In the 12 century CE, the Jewish philosopher and physician Moses ben Maimon stated,” Anyone who lives a sedentary life and does not exercise, even if he eats good foods and takes care of himself according to proper medical principles, all his days will be painful ones, and his strength

PDF page 27: Leonardo da Vinci made notable contributions to the field of kinesiology through his keen observations and anatomical studies during the Renaissance. He conducted meticulous dissections of human cadavers, documenting detailed anatomical structures and their functions. Da Vinci's early work in kinesiology focused on understanding the mechanics of human movement, including the musculoskeletal system and the interactions between bones, muscles, and joints. His anatomical drawings and sketches, such as the famous Vitruvian Man, provided valuable insights into the principles of biomechanics and human kinetics. His interdisciplinary approach, combining art and science, laid the foundation for future

PDF page 27: The Renaissance saw a rebirth, a renewed interest in both concepts of the mind, like the arts and literature, and the body's health. As early as 1420, Vittorino da Feltre, an Italian humanist, opened a school with a special emphasis on physical education, and in 1569, the Italian physician Mercuriale published De Arte Gymnastics – one of the earliest books to explicitly

PDF page 27: In the 15th century, theologian and scholar Robert Burton went so far as to declare that not exercising, or "idleness" as he referred to it, was the "bane of body and mind." Psychologically, he warned that lack of exercise could cause melancholy (the name given to depression at the time) and, "many other maladies." Religiously, Burton decided that exercise was not only essential for good health but a means of avoiding eternal damnation. For example, he saw idleness as one of the seven deadly sins, serving only to deliver chaos.