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  "events": [ {
    "tStartMs": 6794,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "The year is 100 CE,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and 11-year-old Julia Lucilla is playing\nwith her ivory doll Pompeia."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Named after the Roman Emperor\nTrajan’s wife,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Pompeia is only 20 centimeters tall,"
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  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 3462,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "with joints at her arms, legs, knees,\nand elbows,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and a bevy of miniature\nclothes and accessories."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "With her doll in hand,\nJulia hosts elaborate dinner parties,"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 34238,
    "dDurationMs": 2211,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "helps Aeneas escape Troy,"
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  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 3462,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and accompanies her father\non work trips to Egypt."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "This ancient scene is likely familiar\nto any modern parent,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and that’s because kids have been going\non imaginary adventures with their toys"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 48461,
    "dDurationMs": 2169,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "for thousands of years."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "While the most common ancient playthings\nwould likely have been sticks and rocks,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "evidence of their use for play\nis archaeologically invisible."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "However, archaeologists have found\nmaterial, visual, and written evidence"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "for toys across the ancient world."
    } ]
  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 3045,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In Anatolia circa 3000 BCE,"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 72026,
    "dDurationMs": 2711,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "miniature toy carriages\nraced through the dirt"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 74737,
    "dDurationMs": 2002,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "at the hands of energetic youngsters."
    } ]
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "A thousand years later,\nin the Indus Valley,"
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    "dDurationMs": 1751,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "a toddler giggled gleefully"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 81410,
    "dDurationMs": 4130,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "at the chirping sound created\nby their dove-shaped terracotta whistle."
    } ]
  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Alongside whistles and wheeled toys,"
    } ]
  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "dolls are another\ncommon ancient plaything,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 91629,
    "dDurationMs": 2920,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "though they can be a little\nharder to identify."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 95758,
    "dDurationMs": 3087,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "While some archaeologists\nthink ancient female figurines"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 98845,
    "dDurationMs": 3503,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "found across Afro-Eurasia\nmay have been children’s toys,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 102390,
    "dDurationMs": 2961,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "others believe them\nto be sacred fertility idols."
    } ]
  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "But we do know dolls like Pompeia\nwere popular in Greece and Rome,"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 110773,
    "dDurationMs": 4505,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "with hair and clothes designed\nto reflect changing adult fashions."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 115486,
    "dDurationMs": 2461,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "And thousands of years later\nin the Arctic,"
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  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 5130,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Inuit children carried fur-clad dolls\ncarved of wood or walrus tusk."
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  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 3837,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "But perhaps the most common\nancient toy is the humble ball."
    } ]
  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 1376,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Thousands of years ago,"
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  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 4630,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "children in ancient Egypt, China,\nGreece, and Mesoamerica"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 134714,
    "dDurationMs": 2043,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "kicked and threw balls made of everything"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 136757,
    "dDurationMs": 3462,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "from leather and linen\nto papyrus and palm fiber."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 140261,
    "dDurationMs": 2753,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "The rules for most of their games\nhave been lost to time,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 143014,
    "dDurationMs": 4713,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "however some kids may have imitated\nadult games we know more about."
    } ]
  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "For example, ancient Greek children\nmight have played episkuros,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "a team sport where players competed"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 153816,
    "dDurationMs": 4588,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "to push their opponents outside the pitch\nby hurling the ball as far as possible."
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  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 2920,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Meanwhile, Mesoamerican kids might\nhave played a game"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 161699,
    "dDurationMs": 4129,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "where players try to hit a rubber ball\nthrough a hoop using only their hips."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Then again, in some cultures,\nthis game had religious significance,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "so it's possible those children\nsteered clear of this sacred sport."
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 174086,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In any case, rougher, physical play was\noften limited"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "by ancient gender expectations,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "with young girls being left out of rowdier\nball games in Rome and Egypt."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Spartan girls circa 400 BCE"
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  }, {
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    "dDurationMs": 3503,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "did engage in the same\nrigorous physical activities as boys,"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 191145,
    "dDurationMs": 3378,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "but largely because adults believed\nit would strengthen their bodies"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 194523,
    "dDurationMs": 1419,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "for childbearing."
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 196734,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Fortunately, this wasn’t the only reason\nancient adults encouraged kids to play."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Athenian philosopher Plato\nobserved that toys like building blocks"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 205701,
    "dDurationMs": 2795,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and miniature farming implements\nwere useful tools"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "for learning the skills\nneeded in adulthood."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "That said, many ancient cultures expected\nchildren to give up their games and toys"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 216420,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "as they grew up."
    } ]
  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "A common Roman phrase\ndescribed a child “giving up nuts”"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 221926,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "when taking up their\nadult responsibilities"
    } ]
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    "tStartMs": 224428,
    "dDurationMs": 3254,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "since nuts were used\nin a variety of simple games."
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 228057,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "And young Roman girls left their dolls\nas offerings to the gods"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 231852,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "as part of preparing for their wedding."
    } ]
  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "However, other childhood games\nresembled those"
    } ]
  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "men and women continued to enjoy\ninto adulthood."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "One, called knucklebones, was popular\nacross the ancient Mediterranean."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Usually crafted from the\nankle bones of sheep or pigs,"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 248869,
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "they could be used as jacks or dice,"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 251330,
    "dDurationMs": 3045,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "with different faces\nearning different point values."
    } ]
  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In addition to games of chance,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "ancient adults played a variety\nof strategic board games,"
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  }, {
    "tStartMs": 260047,
    "dDurationMs": 2544,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "which may have been introduced\nduring childhood."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Some particularly well-recorded\nexamples include"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "the Royal Game of Ur\nin ancient Mesopotamia,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Go in China, Senet in Egypt,"
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and Ludus latrunculorum—\nor, the Game of Soldiers— in Rome."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Today, playful kids follow the same\ninstincts as their ancient ancestors."
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "They continue to make up ball games,\ninvent stories for their favorite dolls,"
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  }, {
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and send toy cars skittering\nacross the floor."
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    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Because the simplest\nkinds of play never get old."
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