Popular recreation Flashcards
When was popular recreation
Pre-industrial Britain
Explain the characteristics of popular recreation
P opular- over 90% of the population did it
L ocal- lack of transport
U n-written rules/simple- illiterate, lack of ed
C ruel/violent- reflected societ
I rregular/occasional- only on feast/festival days
C lass system- gentry and peasants
R ural- people lived in tiny countryside villages
O ccupational- jobs came from sport (rowing)
W agering- unregulated betting
N atural- lack of technology/purpose-built buildings
What were the two classes in this time periods
Upper class=gentry
Lower class=peasants
What sports did the gentry take part in
Hunting, coursing, shooting, real tennis, archery, fencing
What sport did the peasants take part in
Mob football (reflected violent society), rowing
Which sport did both classes take part in and what were each of their roles
Cricket
Gentry=batter
Peasants=fielders
Explain the difference between why the gentry wagered and why the peasants wagered
Gentry=show off their money
Peasants=dreamed of going from ‘rags to riches’ so would bet on slim chances of big win
How did the inn influence popular recreation
- landlord took the wages
- drinking
- socialising (arrange work, political activity)
- wagering
- beds
- place to keep horses
- bare fist fighting, bear bating, cock fighting
How did the church influence popular recreation
- discouraged mob football and other violent games due to the violent, chaos, drinking nature
- Sunday -day of the sabbath
- feast days allowed sport
- disagreed with spontaneity and irregularity of sports (disruptions)
How did country pursuits influence popular recreation
- functional -provided food for gentry
- dressed for status symbol (smart)
- game law -unless employed by estates peasants could shoot
How did militaristic combat influence popular recreation
- need to defend and attack
- became a recreation when people got Huns
- today=archery, shooting
Characteristics of the lower class in popular recreation
Occupational Uncivilised Local Violent Unwritten rules Patronage Simple Inexpensive Accessible
Characteristics of upper class in popular recreation
Travelled Rule based Dress code Accessible Expensive Sophisticated Patronage Violent Uncivilised
