NTRODUCTION

Long before football, baseball, or other organized team sports, there was the game of ulama. The Mesoamerican ballgame was widespread across the Central American tropics, Mexico, and SW North America. The creation of this sport was tied deeply to ideology. Sometimes it was played for fun and other times, it was dead serious. In this discussion, we’ll explore the evidence for archaeological remains of sports and examine the role of sports in society.

RESEARCH

Before making your initial post, take the time to complete the research.

1. View the PPts on Ancient Mesoamerica and the Mesoamerican Ballgame.
2. Review the materials in Chapters 6 & 7 of your text (Lavenda & Schultz).
3. Read the article posted in this week’s module or access the URL:

Fox, John. 2006. Students of the Game. Smithsonian April.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/students-of-the-game-114354912/?no-ist (Links to an external site.)

1. If you are unfamiliar with football, please access the following information to educate yourself on one of these sports.

For American football, please consult: http://www.nfl.com/rulebook (Links to an external site.)

For European football, please consult:http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/technicalsupport/refereeing/laws-of-the-game/ (Links to an external site.)

DISCUSSION

PART A – DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR INITIAL POST (Due: by Sunday)

Answer the following questions for your initial post. Label your responses according to each of the numbered questions since it facilitates reading for everyone. All work must be your own.

1. What is the archaeological evidence for ulama? Discuss in detail at least 3 different types of evidence and where it is found.
2. What are the similarities and differences between ulama and football (American or European)?
3. Why is ulama on the verge of extinction? How do the causes relate to sustainability, globalization, and modernization?
4. What role do sports in general play in a society, ancient or modern?

PART B – READING

Read at least 15 initial posts before responding to peers.

PART C – REPLIES (Due: by Wednesday)

After you have posted your initial post earlier in the week, please post substantive, respectful replies to at least two other students.

DISCUSSION GUIDELINES

Please consult the materials “Discussion Guidelines” and “Netiquette” for full instructions on how discussions work in this class. Professional, ethical, respectful behavior is expected of everyone in all circumstances. All worked submitted must be your own.

You can find these items in the ‘Start Here’ module. Please ask if you have any questions.

I will send you my classmates' works later for the Replies part.