The Comparative Physical Education in Spain (1806-1936)

Abstract

In the academic, professional and popular institutionalization of the physical education in Europe, manifested during throughout the XIX century and the beginning of the XX century, Spain centralized a considerable attention to events beyond its borders. Spain tried to set examples and to import foreign models. The doctrinal and technical discussions about this issue caused an infinite number of allusions in the press, in specialized magazines and pedagogical and gymnastics literature. Thus during the first third of the XX century, the first studies about comparative physical education were presented. The description and interpretation of these documents enable us both to assess the impact and to understand the influence that the foreign education systems exercised in Spain.