User:Yeti Hunter/Sandbox
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Proposed rewrite of History of rowing
Rowing has a history dating back at least 6000 years. Although pre-dated by paddling, it is one of the oldest forms of transport. Until relatively recently, rowing was in widespread use for industry and warfare. In modern times, rowing is almost exclusively a recreational or sporting pursuit, having been made obsolete by the advent of the motor-driven screw in most other maritime arenas.
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[edit] Rowing in commerce, industry and warfare
[edit] Ancient
The ancient Egyptians were one of the earliest societies to develop rowing. Rowing was considered a sacred activity, and all boats divine property. Most Egyptian ships were 30-oared, though some may have been as large as 500 oars. Instead of rowlocks, the oar pivoted on a thole pin which stuck up from the gunwale.[1]
The Greeks developed the trireme, a huge warship powered by 170 rowers seated in three tiers, around 500BC. In some cases these ships were able to travel 24 hours a day, by rowing in shifts and eating on the job. Modern research has suggested that the rowers of a trireme would have to have been as fit as today's elite athletes to sustain the speeds the ships were known to travel.[2]
- Romans
- Norse
- Venetians
[edit] Before 1800
[edit] Modern day
[edit] Competitive rowing
- Origins - Oxford and cambridge
- Growth in popularity
[edit] Amateurism and professionalism
- Professional match racing
- Amateurism in England elsewhere (restrictive ARA/Henley definition of amateur; ARA/NARA split)
- Amateurism elsewhere
- The end of the amateur/professional divide (FISA removal of all references to amateurism in 1998)
[edit] International competition
- Olympics
- Growth of institutes
[edit] Women's rowing
[edit] Evolution of style
- English Orthodox, sliding seat, Ned Hanlan, Steve Fairbairn, Stan Pocock, Karl Adam
[edit] Evolution of equipment
- elimination of keel, outrigging, gate, clinker vs skinned, timber vs composite, cleaver blade
