Horse racing is one of the world’s oldest sports.
It dates to 4000 B.C. when nomadic horsemen of Central Asia domesticated the horse. The nomads became expert riders and used racing to showcase their talents. Racing continues to be popular in Central Asian countries such as Mongolia, “the land of the horse.”
The wheeled chariot was invented around 2000 B.C. and someone came up with the idea of racing horse-drawn chariots. By 700 B.C. chariot racing was a popular sport in Greece. Teams of two or four horses pulled chariots and their drivers in a race for the finish line. The races first took place at the funerals held for Greek heroes but became so popular that arenas called hippodromes were built to host them. The oval track of the hippodrome included hairpin turns that were extremely dangerous. Many drivers were killed in violent crashes after being trampled by horses or crushed by overturned carts.
Horse racing was introduced to the Greek Olympics in 680 B.C. There were two-horse and four-horse chariot races as well as races for horses with bareback riders (saddles and stirrups had yet to be invented). Although Olympians competed naked at the time, riders and chariot drivers were allowed to wear clothes for protection.
The chariots raced in ancient Rome were driven by slaves who were able to buy their freedom if they won enough races. Chariot racing was dangerous, and the life expectancy for drivers and horses was short. Up to 12 chariots raced at the same time, and drivers attempted to make the others crash. Many drivers were thrown, trampled, or dragged to their deaths.
Denne historien er fra October 2017-utgaven av Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
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Denne historien er fra October 2017-utgaven av Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Animal Central
From golden frogs to big cats to colorful birds, the national animals of Central America represent the geography and cultures of the region. For a quick sampling of creatures plain and beautiful, common and rare, read on.
31 Countries Biosphere
The Trifinio Fraternidad Biosphere Reserve is located at a spot where El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras converge. A biosphere is the layer of planet Earth where life exists.
THE LEGEND OF THE QUETZAL BIRD
A Mayan Tale retold by Pat Betteley illustrated by Amanda Shepherd
Semana Santa GUATEMALA'S HOLY WEEK
What if Easter preparations meant dyeing sand, collecting pine needles, and staying up all night to work on an art project that you knew would be ruined the very next day? Well, welcome to Guatemala’s Semana Santa, or Holy Week.
ME OH-MAYA!
The Maya are groups of people who live in parts of Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. Their ancestors created a great society. At its peak, from 600-900 C.E., the Maya civilization was more advanced than its neighbors in the Americas.
Playing Games Honduras-style
Would you play the same games in Honduras that you do in the United States? You might. Children in Honduras enjoy many of the same games North Americans do. They go fishing and shoot baskets. They play sandlot baseball—called bate (BAH tay). They fly kites and ride bikes. Their parents may go horseback riding or play golf or tennis.
LIVING A LONG LIFE IN THE Blue Zone
Most people would like to live as long a life as possible. No one really knows why some people live longer than others, but did you know that where you live can play a big part in how many years you’ll be alive? If you live in a Blue Zone, chances are that you will live much longer than people in other parts of the world.
ATTENTION WORLD: Belize Saves Their Coral Reef
Sea turtles float in clear waters, colorful corals hug the ocean floor, and aquatic animals glide among the mangrove roots. Welcome to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the second-largest coral reef in the world (Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is number one). Several years ago, this reef was in crisis, heading toward destruction. But the people of Belize fought back to save their reef’s health.
The Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a 51-mile long canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
This is Central America!
It’s time to visit Central America. But first, it helps to know exactly where Central America is. Despite its name, it is the southernmost part of North America, which can seem a little confusing. It makes up most of the isthmus dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and has water on both sides.
