History and evolution of Fitness

Near East (4000,250 BC): the political and military leaders of the civilizations of Persia, Babylon, Egypt, Palestine and Syria understood the importance that the physical efficiency and performance of military forces was based on fitness intended as the implementation of a rigorous form physics. The best example was the "Persian Empire." At the age of six he began the training imposed by the Persian Head of State which included hunting, long marches on foot and on horseback, and the throwing of the javelin.

A sort of gym, on the other hand, was set up for training based on improving strength and endurance rather than on health. This was to create strong soldiers and expand the Empire. However, the wealth and corruption of the politicians and military that soon animated Persia led to a weakening of the Empire's fitness level. Consequently, the military weakening that occurred led to the collapse and end of the Persian empire.

Ancient Greek Civilization (2500-200 BC) Athens: There was probably no higher regard for fitness than for the Greek civilization. The idealism of physical perfection, the importance for the beauty of the body, for health and well-being, as it manifested itself throughout Greek society, was unprecedented in history. Ancient Greek doctors favored the spread of fitness in the ancient society of Athens, among the most important we remember: Herod, Hippocrete and Galen. The Greeks believed in the importance of the development of the body as much as in that of the mind, as mental well-being is necessary for the physical one. In fact, they were the first to include music in physical exercise with a common Greek saying: exercise for the body and music for the soul. Physical activities were carried out in gyms which consisted of closed structures for exercises and an outdoor space for jumping and running. To "watch over" and educate young people in the gyms there were figures (paidotribes) who represented the modern figures of the fitness trainer.

Sparta: Sparta's fitness values were felt even more than in Athens. The development of a fitness culture in sparta was exclusively for military purposes. During this era numerous and bloody clashes were between peoples. This made it necessary to maintain high levels of fitness performance. The males of the Sparta society began at the age of six to adulthood and were directly educated by members of the government, who were responsible for the physical formation of the child. This education was to guarantee training suitable for the adult soldier. Females also had the obligation to maintain good physical shape to be able to have strong children who could thus serve the state in the best possible way. The soldiers of Sparta have been remembered in history as the best physically fit model in the history of mankind. in terms of strength and vigor.

Roman civilization (200 BC - 476 AD): after the Greek civilization there was that of Rome to enhance the physical condition, a sign of the highest times of conquest and expansion. In this period, all Roman citizens between the ages of 17 and 60 participated in the project for the constitution of the military body. For this reason all the Romans had to guarantee excellent physical conditions to be suitable when needed. Military training also consisted of activities such as marching, jumping and discus and / or javelin throwing. This lifestyle formed strong characters, who conquered almost the entire Western world.

The gladiators. When wealth and the excess of the materialistic conception of life took higher priority than physical condition, the Roman people underwent its decline. The luxury and physical decay of the Romans was overwhelmed by the physically superior barbarian tribes of northern Europe.

THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (476-1400) AND THE MIDDLE AGES (900-1400). The fall of the Empire by the Barbarians of Northern Europe symbolizes a change in lifestyle. The luxurious way of life of the Romans had led to the complete deterioration of the well-being of civilization. The barbarians still carried out primitive activities such as hunting, gathering and breeding, therefore physical activity and fitness as prerequisites for survival. Therefore, with the collapse of the Roman Empire there was a halt in the culture, but the only positive event brought from this historical period was the resumption of fitness in the lifestyle. "... When the various civilizations recognized the" importance of physical activity for physical well-being they felt the need to transmit this knowledge to their people ... "