3.1.1 - pre-industrial britain (pre1780) Flashcards
what was life like in pre-industrial britain? (4Cs)
- cruel
- clear class division
- countryside
- communications
- uneducated
- bad health
- long working hours
- rural
define popular recreations
sport and pastimes of people in pre-industrial britain
how did general life affect popular recreations?
- limited transport and communications - local
- uneducated - limited rules and organisation
- cruel, violent society - violent and aggressive
- clear class division - gentry and peasant activities separate
- long working hours - occasional
- countryside, rural - natural resources
define feudal system
the holding of land in exchange for labour
what are the 3 sports you need to know for pre-industrial britain?
- mob football
- real tennis
- athletics
who played mob football? where and when was it played?
- lower class
- localised form of sport
- played occasionally (e.g holy days - shrove tuesday)
what sort of sport was mob football and how was it played?
- male dominated, violent, unruly and unorganised
- was played in a field with natural resources (e.g pigs bladder)
who played mob football? where and when did they play it?
- lower class
- localised sport
- occasional, e.g holy days (shrove tuesday)
what sort of sport was real tennis and how was it played?
- skillful game to show superiority
- had a high moral code, lacked violence, respectful, used expensive equipment
who played real tennis? where and when did they play it?
- upper class
- non-local, could travel
- played on a regular basis in purpose built facilities
what sort of sport was athletics and who played it?
- it was a form of competitive running/walking in the 17th/18th centuries involving feats of endurance
- footmen (servants) competed as messengers.
- There was wagering on how far they could run in a certain time
what was the impact of atheltics?
- success meant increased social status for gentlemen so upper class were happy to act as patrons for performers
define Patrons
member of the gentry who looked after a lower class performer, arranged competitions, provided prize money and looked after the general welfare of the performer
what are festival occasions?
- early athletics, rural community festivals with athletic events (e.g running, hurdling, football)
- prizes were awarded by upper class patrons
what were key characteristics of festival occasions?
- rural location
- annual event
- simple/unwritten rules
- local with neighbouring villages joining
- wages placed on race outcomes
