Question

Ball badminton, a form of the game played with a wool ball instead of a shuttlecock, was being played in Thanjavur as early as the 1880s.

1.Yes
2. No

Answer 1

The ancient Mesoamerican ballgame was the world's first team sport, deeply intertwined with religious rites and society. Originating with the Olmec and adopted by the Maya and Aztecs, it was played on sacred ball courts, with some games ending in human sacrifice. The sport persists in modern forms today, proving its lasting cultural impact.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ancient Mesoamerican ballgame, known as pitz to the Maya and òllamaliztli to the Aztecs, was the first known team sport in history. This game, deeply rooted in religious and social practices, was played with a heavy rubber ball that players struck with their hips, elbows, or knees. Protection was necessary due to the solid weight of the ball, leading players to wear padded garments. The ball courts were sacred places, and the outcomes of the games could have grave consequences, including human sacrifice.

The sport originated with the Olmec civilization in the first millennium BCE and was adopted by subsequent Mesoamerican cultures, including the Maya and Aztecs. Maya mythology was often reenacted through the ballgame. It held a significant role in their society, revered both as a source of entertainment and a means of conflict resolution among the elite. The largest and one of the most famous ball courts can be found at Chichen Itza.