However, ancient Greece is often cited as a significant influence, with their emphasis on physical training (gymnastics) as part of a well-rounded education for citizens. This included activities for strength, agility, and discipline, often intertwined with religious and military practices. While not "physical education" as we understand it today, it laid important groundwork for the later development of the field.
The modern formalization of physical education as a structured part of school curricula emerged later, with various countries developing their systems independently throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, drawing on influences from different historical and cultural traditions. So there's no single place of invention.