Pre Industrial Britain

Question 1

What was life like in pre-industrial Britain for peasants?

Answer 1

• harsh and brutal
• worked 12-16 hours a day
• worked for a place to stay and food
• only had holy days off work
• bad health
• communication and transport was limited
• 80% of the population lived in rural Britain

Question 2

What was life like in pre-industrial Britain for the rich?

Answer 2

• lived in luxury
• Owned the farms that the peasants worked on
• believed they were better than the peasants in society

Question 3

What was life like in preindustrial Britain? the 4 C’s

Answer 3

• cruel
• clear class division
• countryside
• Communications

Question 4

Popular recreation

Answer 4

The sport and pass times of people in preindustrial Britain

Question 5

Feudal system

Answer 5

Broadly defined it was a way of structuring society around a relationship derived from the holding of land exchange for service or labour

Question 6

Characteristics of mob football

Answer 6

• played by the lower class
• played by men
• very violent
• had no rules
• was played locally

Question 7

Characteristics of real tennis

Answer 7

• played to a high moral code
• played in a civilised manner
• Had mutual respect for others playing
• played by upper class
• played in leisure time and could travel/non local

Question 8

Patron

Answer 8

Member of the gentry who looked after the lower class performer e.g by arranging competitions for them to participate in putting up prize money and generally looking after the welfare of the performer.

Question 9

Characteristics of athletics in pre industrial Britain

Answer 9

• known as foot racing
• footmen did it (servants sending messages for the upper class)
• a form of competitive running/walking
• betting occurred, with wagers placed on the outcome of the races.
• successful athletes increased social status
• athletic events were held on a ‘festival occasion’
• the lower class played it and the upper class supported it (became patrons)

Question 10

Why were popular recreation activities banned in the 19th century?

Answer 10

• they were violent and unruly in nature
• lead to injury so people couldn’t work
• lead to damage of property
• involved gambling/wagering
• were linked to alcohol consumption/drunken behaviour