about 1000 BCE to 500 CE
Classical Worlds
Empires and academies turned play into sport, strategy and art.
- Southeast Asia and the Islands (14)
- South Asia (11)
- Persia, Caucasus and Central Asia (11)
- Northern and Eastern Europe (10)
- Mediterranean (9)
- Japan and Korea (9)
- Celtic and Atlantic Europe (8)
- Mesopotamia, Levant and Arabia (6)
- China (6)
- Africa: Great Lakes and Indian Ocean (6)
- Steppe and Arctic (4)
- The Americas: Andes and South America (4)
- Africa: Sahel, West and Central (4)
- The Americas: North America (3)
- Africa: Nile and the Horn (3)
- The Americas: Caribbean (3)
- Shared across the world (2)
- The Americas: Mesoamerica (1)
Africa: Nile and the Horn 3
Aragoz Hand-Puppet Booth
Egypt · Performance and storytellingPlay preview · in the Story & Theatre of the World app
Zande kundi arched harp
South Sudan · Musical instruments
Africa: Sahel, West and Central 4
Fula Riti One-String Fiddle
Guinea · Musical instruments
Imzad Fiddle
Niger +2 · Musical instruments
Mvet
Gabon +2 · Musical instruments
Africa: Great Lakes and Indian Ocean 6
Adungu
Uganda · Musical instruments
Champ de Mars turf
Mauritius · Sports with animal partners
Kitendawili
Kenya · Puzzles and mind games
Moraingy drum-and-strike duel
Madagascar · Wrestling and martial sportsPlay preview · in the Sports & Skill of the World app
Nyatiti Luo lyre
Kenya · Musical instruments
Valiha tube zither
Madagascar · Musical instruments
Mesopotamia, Levant and Arabia 6
Al Ayyala Cane-Line Rhythm
United Arab Emirates · Archery, throwing and target games
Falaj Water-Turn Clock
Oman · Board and table games
Persia, Caucasus and Central Asia 11
Kyz Kuu
Kazakhstan · Street and playground games
Rope pulling
Kazakhstan · Street and playground gamesKokpar
Kazakhstan · Street and playground gamesShashki / chess
Uzbekistan · Board and table gamesTurkmen Akhal-Teke equestrian games
Turkmenistan · Street and playground games
South Asia 11
Bansuri bamboo flute
India +1 · Musical instrumentsPlay preview · in the Music & Dance of the World app
Digor
Bhutan · Archery, throwing and target games
Kathputli string puppets
India · Performance and storytellingPlay preview · in the Story & Theatre of the World app
Kotta Pora
Sri Lanka · Wrestling and martial sportsPlay preview · in the Sports & Skill of the World app
Lathi Khela
Bangladesh · Wrestling and martial sports
Murchunga
Nepal · Musical instruments
Horn pulling
Sri Lanka · Street and playground games
China 6
Cuju
China · Dexterity and skill games
Dougong Bracket Stacking
China +2 · Puzzles and mind games
Tea Horse Road Caravan
China · Board and table games
Japan and Korea 9
Gayageum
South Korea · Musical instruments
Geomungo
South Korea · Musical instruments
Shakuhachi
Japan · Musical instruments
Southeast Asia and the Islands 14
Arnis / Eskrima
Philippines +1 · Wrestling and martial sportsPlay preview · in the Sports & Skill of the World app
Kampong Ayer water-taxi dash
Brunei +1 · Water and winter sports
Khloy bamboo duct flute
Cambodia · Musical instruments
Pencak silat
Indonesia +3 · Wrestling and martial sportsPlay preview · in the Sports & Skill of the World app
Sasando
Indonesia · Musical instruments
Saung gauk
Myanmar · Musical instruments
Water puppet pond theatre
Vietnam · Performance and storytellingPlay preview · in the Story & Theatre of the World app
Wau bulan kite
Malaysia · Dexterity and skill games
Wayang Shadow Puppets
Indonesia · Performance and storytellingPlay preview · in the Story & Theatre of the World app
Yoke thé
Myanmar · Performance and storytellingPlay preview · in the Story & Theatre of the World appEncang kuda
Singapore · Street and playground games
Mediterranean 9
Malha
Portugal · Archery, throwing and target games
Portuguese Guitar
Portugal · Musical instruments
Sicilian Puppet Knights
Italy · Performance and storytelling
Slovene quintain
Slovenia · Street and playground games
Tbourida
Morocco · Sports with animal partnersBoċċi
Malta · Street and playground gamesPortuguese staff fighting
Portugal · Street and playground games
Northern and Eastern Europe 10
Finger Hooking
Germany +1 · Wrestling and martial sports
Fujara
Slovakia · Musical instruments
Kanklės
Lithuania · Musical instruments
Kantele
Finland · Musical instruments
Kurai
Russia · Musical instruments
Langeleik
Norway · Musical instruments
Mounted Archery Course
Hungary · Dexterity and skill gamesPlay preview · in the Sports & Skill of the World app
Nyckelharpa
Sweden · Musical instruments
String Marionette Theatre
Czechia · Performance and storytellingPlay preview · in the Story & Theatre of the World app
Celtic and Atlantic Europe 8
Basque stone lifting
France · Acrobatics and strength
Krulbol
Belgium +1 · Dexterity and skill games
Langspil
Iceland · Musical instruments
Boules lyonnaises
France · Street and playground gamesProvencal boules
Monaco · Street and playground games
The Americas: Mesoamerica 1
Kite flying
Honduras · Dexterity and skill games
The Americas: Andes and South America 4
Joropo llanero band
Venezuela +1 · Musical instrumentsPlay preview · in the String Music of the World app
Paraguayan Harp
Paraguay · Musical instruments
Payada
Argentina +1 · Wrestling and martial sports
The Americas: Caribbean 3
Kalinda Stick Duel
Trinidad and Tobago · Wrestling and martial sports
Kites
Barbados +1 · Dexterity and skill games
Tuk Band
Barbados · Other traditions
The Americas: North America 3
Mountain dulcimer
United States · Musical instruments
Steppe and Arctic 4
Khomus
Russia · Musical instruments
Mongolian Bow Archery
Mongolia · Dexterity and skill games
Tuvan Throat Singing
Mongolia +1 · Archery, throwing and target games
Shared across the world 2
Equestrian vaulting
Worldwide · Sports with animal partners
Skijoring
Worldwide · Sports with animal partners