| Variations on the game of handball have been played | | | | thought to be an early precursor of tennis - as the |
| all over the world for thousands of years. Known as | | | | game evolved in France, players began to use larger |
| one of the oldest ball games, handball was played in | | | | and larger gloves, until eventually they began to use |
| Egypt over four thousand years ago, in ancient Rome, | | | | items which resembled early tennis racquets. |
| and by many South American cultures. | | | | In America, handball is over three thousand years old, |
| The ancient Egyptians played a variety of ball games. | | | | and originated in Mexico. Handball players are depicted |
| Drawings of Egyptians playing handball have been | | | | on painted pottery items, sculptures, and wall paintings |
| found decorating five thousand year old tombs at | | | | found at archeological sites in many parts of Central |
| Saqqara, which depict girls in teams of two playing the | | | | America. Of the games played by these ancient |
| game. Balls used in Egyptian handballs were designed | | | | civilizations, the one which most closely resembles |
| to be both light and durable - they were made of a | | | | modern handball is Rebotea a mano con pelota dura, |
| leather skin stuffed with hay or other plant fibers such | | | | or "Hardball pelota rebounded with the hand". This |
| as papyrus. | | | | game was played by the Chichimeca people, on |
| In the Roman Empire, the game was called expulsim | | | | courts measuring 20 feet by 40 feet. Many ancient |
| ludere, and was played on courts called sphaeristas. | | | | ruins sites in Central America contain such courts, and |
| Alexander the Great is said to have been responsible | | | | together with the multitude of art which depicts the |
| for spreading the game amongst Greek colonies in | | | | game, indicates that it was an important part of life for |
| Italy in the first millennium BC, and from there it spread | | | | these ancient cultures. |
| to other countries of the Roman Empire. Details of | | | | These days, handball is an increasingly popular sport - it |
| how the game was played during this era are sketchy, | | | | has become part of the Olympic Games, and many |
| but it is believed it was similar to what is known today | | | | international tournaments are dedicated to handball - |
| as one-wall handball. | | | | not surprisingly, the Egyptian team is known to be very |
| In France during the Middle Ages, the game was called | | | | talented, perhaps because of all the civilizations in the |
| jeux de paume (palm play) and was popular with both | | | | world, they have been playing it the longest! |
| nobility and peasants. The ball was made from pieces | | | | Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article |
| of tightly-rolled cloth stitched together, and as the | | | | in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links |
| game evolved gloves were used to allow more | | | | must remain intact and active. |
| forceful hitting of the ball. This form of handball is | | | | |