How long did it take for the Olympic Games to spread?
Geography · High School · Mon Jan 18 2021
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Answered on
- The Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece, specifically in Olympia, around the 8th century BCE. Initially, they were a local festival held in Greece. However, over time, the Games gained popularity and significance, attracting participants and spectators from various Greek city-states.
- The spread of the Olympic Games beyond Greece began with the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE. As a result of this expansion and the subsequent Hellenistic period, the Games started to draw participants from regions outside of Greece.
- After the rise of the Roman Empire, the Olympic Games continued to be held but eventually declined and were abolished by Emperor Theodosius I in 393 CE. The modern revival of the Olympic Games took place in 1896 in Athens, Greece, marking their global resurgence.
- So, considering their initial local origin in ancient Greece and their revival in the modern era, the spread of the Olympic Games took centuries, evolving from a regional event to a global sporting spectacle.