Who invented juggling?

Answer 1

The earliest record of juggling, a panel from the 15th Beni Hassan tomb of an unknown prince, shows female dancers and acrobats throwing balls. Juggling has also been recorded in most other early civilizations including Chinese, Indian, Greek, Aztec (Mexico) and Polynesian civilizations.

1994-1781 B.C. - Egypt

The earliest known record of toss juggling, from the 15th Beni Hassan tomb of an unknown prince, depicting female dancers and acrobats throwing balls

This Egyptian wall painting (c. 1994-1781 BC)

770-476 B.C. -- China

Various jugglers are mentioned in histories, usually warriors who would display their skill to their enemies, sometimes managing to end a conflict before they began. Some jugglers are named, including:

• Lan Zi, from the state of song, credited with juggling seven swords.
• Yi Liao of Shinan juggled balls to settle the conflict between two houses was eliminated.
• Xiong Yiliao, in a battle between the states of Chu and Song, juggled nine balls at the same time.

400-200 B.C. -- Greece

Juggling recorded in Greek writings. There is also terra cotta statue of a man with balls balanced on different parts of his body, from the time of Ptolomaer of ancient Thebes.

50-400 A.D. -- Roman Empire

Juggling recorded in Rome. Tagatus Ursus, a Roman, claimed on his grave inscription to have been the first to juggle with glass balls, and Sidonius Apollinaris, an officer in a Roman legion, entertained his troops by performing juggling tricks with balls.

400-600 A.D. -- Ireland

Irish hero Cuchulainn juggles nine apples. A few centuries later Tulchinne, the royal buffoon of king Conaire, is described as juggling nine swords, nine silver shields, and nine balls of gold.

500-1500 A.D -- Europe

Juggling was an acceptable diversion until the decline of the Roman Empire, after which it fell into disgrace. Throughout the Middle Ages most histories were written by religious clerics who frowned upon the type of performers who juggled, called 'Gleemen', accusing them of base morals or even practicing witchcraft. Jugglers in this era would only perform in market places, streets, fairs or drinking houses. They would perform short, humorous and bawdy acts and pass a hat or bag among the audience for tips. Some king's and noblemen's bards, fools, or jesters would have been to juggle or perform acrobatics, though their main skills would have been oral (poetry, music, comedy and story telling).

1066 -- England

Taillefer, the warrior-bard of William of Normandy, juggles before the enemy lines and makes the first kill at The Battle of Hastings.

1528 -- India

The Emperor of Hindustan described jugglers with wooden rings.

1528 -- America

Christoph Weiditz draws Native Mexicans toss juggling and foot juggling/antipodism, which is also often found in Aztec art.

1680 -- Germany

The first recorded juggling workshop, the Town Council of Nuremberg hired a "ball-master" who juggled and taught others juggling and other skills.

1700s -- France

The earliest known representation of juggling as a single arc of props over widely separated hands, from an 18th century French wood cut. Before this time, all images of jugglers show the hands close together with their props in columns above each hand.

1768 -- England

Philip Astley opens the first modern circus. A few years later he employs jugglers to perform acts along with the horse and clown acts. From then until the modern day, jugglers have found work and have commonly been associated with circuses.

1774 -- Pacific Islands

First record of hiko in Tonga, young girls throwing limes, gourds, or tui tui nuts in the shower pattern, by George Forster, aboard Captain Cook's second Pacific voyage.

1793 -- North America

John Bill Ricketts presents America's first circus. In the opening show, watched by George Washington, Ricketts juggled on horseback.

1795 -- China

Foot juggling/antipodism recorded at the Court of the Emperor of China.

1821 -- England

William Hazlitt writes the essay "The Indian Juggler" describing a four ball juggling routine in detail, probably performed by Ramo Samee, considered to be the first modern professional juggler. In his day Ramo Samee was a well-known British celebrity.

Mid-Late1800s -- Europe and North America

Variety and music hall theatres become more popular, and jugglers are in demand to fill time between music acts, performing in front of the curtain while sets are changed.

• Performers start specializing in juggling, separating it from other kinds of performance such as sword swallowing and magic.
• The Gentleman Juggler style is established by German jugglers such as Salerno and Kara.
• Rubber processing is developed and jugglers start using rubber balls. Previously juggling balls were made from balls of twine, stuffed leather bags, wooden spheres or various metals. Solid rubber balls meant that bounce juggling was possible. Inflated rubber balls lead to ball spinning.

1883 -- North America

In Boston a new style of variety show is born. The format is a continuous show, the same 8-10 acts repeated over and over, the audience coming and going when they had seen all the acts. This was later known as Vaudeville.

1885 -- England

Paul Cinquevalli (1859 -- 1918) made his debut at a circus in Covent Garden, London. Cinquevalli was the first juggling super-star, and was referred to by the British press as the world's greatest juggler.

Late 1800s -- Early 1900s -- North America

In the USA the popularity of variety shows and vaudeville shows created great demand for professional jugglers. To distinguish them from other entertainers, jugglers were constantly developing new tricks, props, styles and characters, many of which survive to this day.

Here are some juggling "firsts" from America, based on anecdotal evidence.

Answer 2

Judo was invented by Jigero Kano in the late 19th century.

Answer 3

Juggling began in Egypt over 4,000 years ago as a format of entertainment for royalty. This trick requires great hand-eye coordination and can be seen performed at circuses and carnivals.

Answer 4

The exact date is unknown. Juggling (like Wrestling, boxing, and acrobatics) is recorded in ancient history.

Answer 5

it started in 3000bc

Answer 6

I was told in Dusseldorf Germany.

Answer 7

somewhere!

Answer 8

clowns?