pre industrial Britain Flashcards
How did Social Class Influence the Characteristics of Pre-Industrial Sports & Pastimes?
Participation in sport was divided by class, the upper class gentry and lower class peasants. -Different classes took part in different sports & pastimes e.g peasants played mob football and upper class played real tennis -Some activities reflected the class of the people that took part in them e.g mob football was violent and real tennis was sophisticated - Different classes could have different roles within the same sport e.g Peasants would fight in prize fighting contests and compete in pedestrianism races and the gentry would act as patrons or sponsors for the participating peasants.
How did Gender Influence the Characteristics of Pre-Industrial Sports & Pastimes?
- sport were male dominated.
There was gender discrimination e.g
-Women were seen as the weaker sex.
-They were expected to behave in a certain way.
-Activities were not to physically strenuous or dangerous so, they had less choice of available activities
But women did take part in some activities e.g
-Peasant women could take part in activities such as smock racing and the upper class women could participate activities such as archery and horse riding
How did Law & Order Influence the Characteristics of Pre-Industrial Sports & Pastimes?
sport was cruel and violent as there was limited law and order which is reflected in the activities they played and influenced and shaped the activities -Reflected the harsh life style of the peasants- life was cheap e.g Mob football, blood sports, bare knuckle boxing and upper class playing real tennis skilful and sophisticated
How did Education & Literacy Influence the Characteristics of Pre-Industrial Sports & Pastimes?
-Widespread illiteracy amongst the peasants meant that rules were unwritten and passed on by word of mouth This meant that rules for the peasants activities were simple and unsophisticated e.g mob football Because the peasants couldn’t read or write which meant they couldn’t read the rules for more sophisticated sports like real tennis therefore reducing their opportunity to participate -The upper class gentry were literate meaning their sports & pastimes had written, sophisticated rules e.g Real tennis had complex, sophisticated rules written down in a rule book As a result, sports for the gentry were more civilised
How did the Availability of Time Influence the Characteristics of Pre-Industrial Sports & Pastimes?
-Long working hours for the peasants meant they had little free time to take part in sport & pastimes limiting participation which meant sport was occasional e.g
Participation was limited to festivals
-The upper class had extensive free time for recreation which meant they participated more frequently in a range of sports & pastimes meaning sport was regular e.g The upper class gentry regularly took part in activities such as real tennis & hunting
How did the Availability of Money Influence the Characteristics of Pre-Industrial Sports & Pastimes?
- The upper class were rich and could take part in activities that required expensive equipment, specialist clothing and purpose built facilities e.g Real tennis required specialist equipment (tennis racquet) specialist clothing & expensive purpose built facilities
- The peasants lived in poverty with no disposal income taking part in activities that were simple, cheap, unsophisticated and natural e.g mob football were cheap, simple & used the natural environment
How did Transport Influence the Characteristics of Pre-Industrial Sports & Pastimes?
- The lower class couldn’t travel far so games were local e.g When playing mob football, people could only play other teams nearby
- the upper class had transport and therefore more opportunity e.g The upper class had access to horse & carriage so could travel further
- They couldn’t travel far so there were not enough teams to set up a league or cups e.g Mob football was usually just played between local villages
