This engaging and informative text takes readers on a journey through time to understand the role that history and philosophy have played in shaping the course of sport and physical education in Western and selected non-Western civilizations. In this edition, explore: Ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and Mesoamerica, including the Nemean Games and the religious rituals linked with the sacrificial competitions of the Mayans and Aztecs; the political history of the modern Olympic Games, up through the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens; Role and contribution of women in sports.-Back cover.