Chapter 1-pre Industrial Britain

Question 1

When was pre industrial Britain?

Answer 1

Pre industrial Britain was before 1780.

Question 2

What are the key areas of focus?

Answer 2

>Two tier class systems
>Rural environment affects
>communications/technology/transport
>widespread illiteracy
>Harsh lifestyles

Question 3

What was pre industrial Britain like?

Answer 3

• living conditions were miserable- overcrowding. This had a large impact of society
• workers of a lower class were paid low wages
• before the late 18th Century, most people worked as farmers
• people could barely afford living resources such as food and rent.
• eduction was limited for the lower class.

Question 4

What was it like for people living in pre industrial Britain?

Answer 4

• class division clearly existed (lower and upper) based on feudal systems
• people lived in rural areas such as the countryside
• There was limited free time as work was based on the land- free time was dictated y the agricultural seasons.
• violent/cruel behaviour was the the norm for the lower class whereas the upper class often lived in luxury.
• communications and transport were limited.

Question 5

Mob football

Answer 5

• played in pre industrial Britain which very much reflected the characteristics of popular recreations and socio cultural Factors evident at the time.
• it was played by lower class society using natural resources. For example a pigs brain
• it was male dominant and extremely violent.

Question 6

What are the 4c’s?

Answer 6

> cruel
clear class systems/divisions
countryside
communications

Question 7

Define feudal system-

Answer 7

It was a way of structuring society around a relationship derived from the holding of land in exchange for service of labour.

Question 8

Define popular recreations-

Answer 8

The sport and past times of people in pre industrial Britain.

Question 9

Popular recreation

Answer 9

There are a number of popular recreations which can be identified during pre industrial Times. Long hours of work meant that popular recreational activities were occasional. And special occasions like shrove Tuesday

Question 10

Transport

Answer 10

Limited transport meant that popular recreational activities were local and specific to each community. For example games would be played at towns vs towns.

Meant that less people could take part. More wealthier people took part.

Question 11

What was literacy like?

Answer 11

It was lower among the lower class in society so any rules were very basic and applied to a particular community. Example- no official rules.

It meant that all classes could take part, however meant there was a high number of injuries.

Question 12

What were activities like?

Answer 12

• aggressive: a lot harsher, people had to stick up for themselves
• male dominated
• reflected a harsh society
• People barely cared meaning that there was lots of damage to properties
• a high number of injuries: even death

Because if the harsh society not many people wanted to take part.

Question 13

How did seasonal time/working hours have an impact?

Answer 13

• not many people could participate due to long working hours
• games were played a few times a year due to harsh weather conditions and occupation.

Question 14

Socio-cultural factors: two tier society/feudal system

Answer 14

The outcome of this was:
•the gentry/upper class activities were clearly separate from from lower classes/ peasant activities.

Question 15

Socio-cultural factors

Answer 15

>limited transport
>illiteracy/uneducated 
>harsh society 
>seasonal time/working hours
>pre industrial
>two tier society/feudal system

Question 16

Real tennis

Answer 16

• was also called ‘royal tennis’ or they sport of kings’
• was another activity played in ore industrial Britain. But it did not reflect the typical popular recreation characteristics of many activities of the time.

Question 17

Who played real tennis?

Answer 17

• it was an exclusive activity mainly played by the upper-class
• Henry VIII had a court at Hampton Court

Question 18

How was real tennis played?

Answer 18

• it was played in a high moral code, so no violence and was instead played in a civilised manner with opponents manually respectful of one another
• it was played with plenty of leisure time, that up a class were able to play row tennis on a regular basis in inexpensive purpose-built facilities using expensive equipment

Question 19

Where was real tennis played?

Answer 19

• The upper-class could travel so it was non-local in nature

- The game was difficult holding technical demands and was very long.

Question 20

Foot racing

Answer 20

It was a form of a competitive running and walking of the 17th and early 18th century

Question 21

Who took part in foot racing and what was it like?

Answer 21

• Footman (I.e hired servants) competed as messengers of the upper-class for the speed of movement.
• it was a form of competitive running/walking involving feats of endurance
• foot racers would play against each other

Question 22

What impact would success have for the upper-class and the performer?

Answer 22

-success in athletics meant increase social status for a ‘gentleman’ so the upper-class were very happy to act as patrons to the working-class performers.

Question 23

What is a patron?

Answer 23

• member of the gentry who looked after the lower class performer
• for example by arranging competitions for them to participate in, putting up price money and generally looking after the welfare of the performer.

Question 24

Festival occasions

Answer 24

• early athletics in preindustrial Britain also took the form of a “festival occasion “with individuals organising rural community festivals containing athletic events. Including running, hurdles and football.
• prizes were awarded by the upper-class patrons for successful participants

Question 25

Characteristics of popular recreational linked to pre-1780 festivals included…

Answer 25

• rules with simple/un written
• they occurred annually
• events were local with people from neighbouring villages joining in with festivals and competitions
• betting occurred, with wages placed on the outcome of races etc
• was set in a rural location

Question 26

Why are popular recreation activities eventually band and 19th century?

Answer 26

• they were violent or unruly in nature
• they lead to injury or death in some extreme cases
• they lead to damage of property
• they involved gambling/wagering
• They were linked to alcohol consumption/drunken behaviour