1.

THE HISTORY OF SWIMMING

1.1. THE ORIGINS OF SWIMMING, SWIMMING CIVILISATIONS IN ANCIENT TIMES

On ancient Egyptian clay tablet from 4000 – 9000 B.C.

 . The arm-stroke clearly shows the moving phase of the freestyle arm-stroke: one arm is depicted in the
recovery phase above the water, while the other arm carries out the pulling action under the water.

Prehistoric era,

they developed swimming and bath culture of people in Ancient Times. Human civilisations, such as the
Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Chinese, Indian and Greek were established beside waters, along rivers and seas, and this
developed close ties with the life-giving water.

A. ancient Greeks swimming was a measure of culture.

 “Those uneducated who can neither swim nor read and write, cannot hold a public position”, said Plato.
 In Athens, Solon made the acquisition of the science of swimming compulsory in 594 B.C.,
 Lykourgos, the lawmaker of Sparta, prescribed the same in a strict Act on education in the 9th century.

B. In Mesopotamia we can find swimming and the pictorial or written every nation’s culture from the Sumerian to
the Assyrian. Their scientific achievements include water pools and swimming pools.

 Swimming was an integral part of combat training of the Assyrians as well as young people in Israel received
obligatory swimming lessons. Herod the Great (73 B.C. – 4 A.D.), king of Judea, made swimming
compulsory to all male children.

C. The oldest pictorial records of professional swimming can also be seen in Egyptian papyri from 3000 B.C.

 The ancient Egyptians knew a number of swimming styles. Freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke are
depicted in the representations found in royal tombs, on vessels and vases.

E. the Germanic peoples used swimming as a tactical exercise,

F. the Finnish considered it as natural a movement as running.
G. The Icelandic folklore also reports a number of swimming deeds, which shows that both men and women were
excellent swimmers.
H. In Japan, swimming had an important role in the training of the Samurai. According to the historical records the
first known swimming competition was held in the isolated island country in 36 B:C., organized by Emperor Su Gui
In the remote India, the ancient records of swimming can also be found. One of the first pools used for swimming is
located here, in Mohenjo-daro, dating back to 2800 B.C. and measuring 30x60 meters. Within the military caste it
was mandatory to learn how to swim and fight in water.
I. In China, where body culture flourished under the reign of the third dynasty, the Zhou dynasty (11 th – 3rd c.),
historians account swimming across rivers. Of course, here as well swimming was part of the military training. In the
3rd century B.C., the Chinese Imperial fleet officer training institutions have organised swimming lessons and
swimming trainings.

J. The ancient swimming and bathing culture rose to its highest level in Rome. The usefulness of swimming in
entertainment and in public life, and its role in politics was quickly realised.
 . Roman baths were also built in Hungary, such as the famous baths of Aquincum.
 Swimming for the Romans did not only have health and “body exercising” function, but it was considered as
indispensable also in military training. From the 3 rd century B.C., warriors had to swim in attire and
weaponry in order to improve their physical fitness.

Activity 1
In one whole sheet of paper, use this hand-out as your reference in answering the activity.
1. Create adiagram/graphic organizerabout the origin of swimming base from the reference above.
Specifically on the ff. countries (Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt, German, Finland, Iceland, Japan, India and
China.
 The graphic organizer is either printed form or in a drawing form.
 Write only the important information that happened in each particular place.
 Content – 10 points, Creativity – 5 points
2.