Popular Recreation Flashcards
Give an accurate definition of Popular Recreation
Pre-industrial sports and pastimes mainly associated with the peasant/lower classes. This refers to the most popular pastimes of the era.
Explain what is meant by the term Patron?
A member of the gentry who looked after a lower class performer, such as a runner (Pedestrianism) or prize fighter.
Describe what a patron did and identify the benefits. What would they be known as today?
Patrons would arrange the contest, put up a stake or wager money, and give board and lodging to the performer. He did it for prestige and because of the popularity of the contests. Today they would be known as an agent or sponsor.
List some examples of popular recreations
Mob games, cock fighting, prize fighting, real tennis etc
What were the Game Laws?
These were laws that prevented ordinary people from hunting and shooting game.
Briefly describe what life would have been like for an eighteenth century peasant
It was a tough, harsh existence. Sports and pastimes echoed this life. For example, baiting and blood sports. The pub was central to village life, it was here that many leisure activities took place. For example, dog fighting and badger baiting.
Identify the main characteristics of popular recreations and the cultural factors that influenced them
Natural/Simple - lack of money and technology
Local - limited transport and communications
Simple unwritten rules - illiteracy, no NGB, played locally
Cruel and violent - reflected the harshness of society
Occasional - Played on Holy days and annual holidays
Courtly/Popular - Two class society
Rural - Agricultural life, working on the land, green spaces
Occupational - work became basis of sport; watermen
Wagering - rags to riches (poor) or show off (rich)
Explain how opportunity was restricted due to gender issues
In pre-industrial Britain upper class women were free to pursue certain elitist activities like hawking. Lower class women were able to participate in more physical, but less sophisticated activities, such as smack races. The later Victorian era changed attitudes and it was thought to be unladylike to participate in physical activity.
Describe how class varied opportunity for participation in pre-industrial Britain
The upper class (gentry or aristocracy) dominated the lower class (peasants). The upper class had money, for facilities and equipment, and time, to develop skill and travel. The lower class had neither, playing unsophisticated games on an occasional basis.
Compare and contrast the sporting activities of the gentry to the sporting activities of the peasants in pre-industrial Britain
Upper class activities were; sophisticated, rule based, had dress codes, were linked with patronage, distant due to opportunity to travel. For example Real tennis Lower class activities were; simple and inexpensive, violent and uncivilised, linked with occupation, local. For example Mob Football
