Playing History: Sport, Culture, and Power from Antiquity to the Present

HIST 4806:

Playing History: Sport, Culture, and Power from Antiquity to the Present

Fall 2026

Instructor: Matthew J. Bellamy

Introduction: Why study sports history?

Sport is far more than entertainment or recreation. It shapes identities, generates immense wealth, inspires political movements, and helps nations imagine themselves. Athletes become symbols of masculinity, race, nationalism, celebrity, and resistance. To study sports history, therefore, is not simply to study games or athletes; it is to examine the evolution of modern society itself.

This seminar explores the history of sport from antiquity to the present through major themes such as empire, nationalism, race, gender, capitalism, media, and celebrity culture. We will examine topics including Indigenous games and colonization, muscular Christianity, the rise of professional sport, race and class in boxing and baseball, hockey and gender identity, sports entrepreneurship, doping scandals, and the making of global athletic icons. Along the way, we will consider how sport both reflects and shapes broader social and cultural transformations.

Class Format

This course is organized as a fourth-year seminar and meets once per week in a three-hour block. Our classes will be discussion-based and designed to encourage thoughtful, relaxed conversation about the history of sport. Together we will explore historical scholarship, documentaries, podcasts, autobiographies, and other sources in order to better understand how sport has evolved across time and place.

From time to time, students will help introduce the week’s readings and discussion themes. These introductions are intended to be informal and conversational rather than formal presentations, and are designed to help foster collaborative discussion and shared exploration of ideas.

Aims and Goals

By the end of the course, students will have developed a deeper understanding of the history of sport and its relationship to culture, politics, identity, and social change. Topics explored throughout the course include:

• Indigenous games and colonization
• Sport, empire, and masculinity
• Boxing, race, and political activism
• Hockey, gender, and nationalism
• Sports entrepreneurship and commercialization
• Doping scandals and performance enhancement
• Celebrity athletes and media culture

The course also emphasizes the development of skills in historical analysis, discussion, research, and academic writing.

Assessment

Your mark in the course will be based on seminar participation, seminar leadership, an essay proposal, and a final research paper. The research essay will give students the opportunity to explore a topic of personal interest related to the history of sport, culture, politics, media, business, or identity.

Questions?

I very much look forward to exploring this subject with you over the term. If you have any questions about the course, readings, assignments, or the study of sports history more generally, please do not hesitate to contact me at Matthew_Bellamy@Carleton.ca. I am always happy to meet with students and discuss ideas or course material.