Pre-Industrial Britain Flashcards
(23 cards)
Why was sport important?
-helped keep fit for war
-hunting for food - functional
-improve fitness to work
-celebrations + entertainment
When would people come together to play sport?
holy days
festivals
What was a sport that lower class males would play?
Mob football
What was mob football?
A mass game with very few rules played between villages. The aim was to force the ball into the centre of the enemy village
What was the development of mob football?
-male dominanted
- early versions eg. shrovetide football
- may of originated in 3rd century after defeat of the romans?
- claims that it started with the head of severed danish prince
-pagan ritual? Ball represents sun and driven around field to represent good harvest
- fatal incidents in 1280, 1312
-1314, King Edward II first recorded prohibitions because of impact
- Other kings tried to do this, game became frowned upon
What was cock fighting?
-Upper class, medieval origins
- 14 foot pit with an 8 inch height fence
-upper class = why it survived for so long
-very cruel
-lots of gambling
-made illegal in 1849
What was throwing at cocks?
-lower classes
- people paid to throw sticks at cocks - if you knocked it over and picked stick back up before it was standing the cock was your and you could charge people to do it to your cock
What were the social classes that pre-industrial Britain was divided into?
Upper class - aristocracy/ gentry who were hereditary land owners
Lower/peasant class - worked manually, mainly on land
Your social class = depended on birth
How did social class affect sport in pre-industrial Britain?
- your class was dependent on what you were born into. Your class influenced sports you could play
-upper class would have more sophisticated sports and a complex set of rules . Had the money, time and education to develop sophisticated sports eg. fox hunting, real tennis
-lower class would participate in simple activities, violent , few rules eg. mob football, dog fighting
-some activities for both classes together
-eg. Pedestrianism
lower class would compte and upper class would sponsor the footmen
-eg. cricket
different class = different roles
roles reflected status ( gentry bat and peasants field)
lower class = professionals
upper class = ameutures
What is the definition of an amateur?
a person who competes in sports activities but does not receive money as a reward for playing
What is a professional?
a person who competes in sports activities and earns an income by participating
How did gender influence sport in pre-industrial Britain?
-women participated in very different activities
- activities shaped by excepted behaviour of women
- women = weaker sex so activities could not be dangerous or strenuous
- women in peasants classes = few rights and had few choices of activities they could be involved in
- peasant women = smock races
- upper class women = archery, hawking
-seen for it to be harmful to women to be physically active
-women had few rights and choices
-had to have non strenuous activities so they are shapely/fit to have babies
How did law and order influence sport in pre-industrial Britain?
-little law and order and this was reflected in activities
-peasants had more violent activities = mob football, bear baiting which reflected lack of order and cruelty In society
-1829- modern police started (metropolitan police act)
How did education and literacy influence sport in pre-industrial Britain?
-Upper class = educated and literate.
-Peasants = uneducated and illiterate
- this characterised activities
- upper class = more sophisticated activities eg. real tennis
-peasants = simple, unsophisticated eg. mob football
How did availability of time influence sport in pre-industrial Britain?
-peasants = work very long + exhausting hours on land . No time or energy for physical activities. Activities confined to festivals and holy days
- upper class = more time and get involved in longer lasting activities eg. hunting
How did availability of money influence sport in pre-industiral Britain?
-upper class = more money so had more opportunities. Could afford horses, equipment , clothing for sports.
-real tennis = expensive equipment + facilities
How did the type and availability of transport affect sport in pre-industrial Britain?
-mainly horse and cart
-most of population had to walk
-roads = appalling state so prevented people from leaving
-sport only played locally
-upper class= could travel further but often limited
-peasants = only had there feet = stay in villages
-lack of transport = confined to villages
What are the characteristics of popular recreation?
Wagering - a chance to go from rags to riches
Natural + Simple - lack of technology + buildings
Local - limited transport and communication
Simple + Unwritten Rules - illiterate, no NGB’s
Cruel + Violent - reflect harshness of life in 18th century
Occasional - free time on holy days, festivals
eg. shrove tuesday
Courtly/Popular - based on feudal system, britain was divided in 2 classes
Rural - britain was rural before industrial revolution
What were the activities for peasants? What were they like?
-mob football, dog fighting, prize fighting
-simple, violent, few rules
What were the activities for upper class? What were they like?
-real tennis, fox hunting
-more sophisticated, complex rules, had money, education and transport to develop activities
What were the activities for both classes?
Cricket, Pedestrianism
What was pedestrianism? How was it divided into the two classes?
-a form a 19th century competitive walking sport
-lower classes would compete in running
-upper classes would be sponsors/patrons
-linked to the occupation of the peasant classes, namely labouring or serving upper classes
How was cricket divided into both classes?
-different roles reflected the status of players
-gentry, upper classes would bat
-peasants, working men would field
