Education of the Body in 16th Century Fencing Treaties

Abstract

The transformations resulting from the civilizing process of customs can be seen in different social spaces, including the historical trajectory of sports. In this sense, this article explores the processes of body education in 16th- century fencing treaties. During this period, the military sword fight became a more regulated confrontation, activating new bodily pedagogies. The analysis presented here indicates that the approximation of the royal court, the formation of cities, the increase in sensibility, and the emergence of firearms played an important role in the modification of fencing techniques and weapons and, consequently, in the entire process of educating the body.