pre-industrial britain (s+c factors that affected sports) Flashcards
what are the 7 social and cultural factors that shaped the characteristics of sports and pastimes?
- social class
- law and order
- gender
- education
- availability of time
- availability of money
- availability of transport
what are the two classes of pre-industrial britain?
upper class and lower class
what are characteristics of lower class sports?
- often cruel or violent
- simple unwritten rules
- occasional/annual
- simple/natural
- local
what are characteristics of upper class sports?
- civilised/sophisticated
- complex rules
- regular
- specialist
- regional
what’s a similarity between upper class and lower class sports during this time?
they were both male dominated
which class had considerably more opportunity and provision?
upper class
what are characteristics of pre-industrial britain?
- rural countryside
- society was split into classes: upper and lower
- minimal law and order
- women were seen as the “weaker sex” and had fewer rights in society
- limited transport
- religion was strongly followed
what was mob football, what was it like and who took part in it?
- was a mass game with few rules and equipment
- the earliest form of football and rugby
- violent
- played by lower class males
what type of animal baiting, hunting, and fighting did each class take part in?
what is a characteristic of this sport/pastime?
lower class: bare knuckle fighting, dog fighting
upper class: cock fighting, fox hunting
- no laws to limit violence or animal cruelty
what are characteristics of real tennis and who played it?
- first form of tennis originating in france
- very complicated rules, only understood by the educated
- large elaborate venue
- long-lasting game
- played by the upper class only
what are characteristics of cricket and who played it?
- often associated with public houses (pubs)
- plenty of space for cricket ovals due to rural land
- mostly upper class but different roles allowed lower class to play
upper class: batted
lower class: took on the role of bowling
what are characteristics of pedestrianism and who played it?
- it was competitive race walking
- upper class would get on their own footmen
- participated by all classes, but different roles
lower class: participated
upper class: we’re the sponsors
what are characteristics of the holy day fair/wake and who played it?
- a range of events that brought the whole village together
- took part in religious holidays, as this was the only free time for the working class
- there were speedster events for women e.g. archery for upper class
- activities involved: drinking contests, catching pigs and animal baiting
when was your social class decided?
at birth
how did social class affect sport?
- different classes took part in different activities
- or different classes at different roles/positions
- social class affected access to sports. e.g. time, money, transport
- the nature of some activities, reflected the class. e.g. simple, violent, limited rules for lower class
how did gender affect sports?
- lack of gender equality in society
- women seen as the weaker sex
- lower participation in sport in women
- different genders took part in different activities
- women had less time to play sports
how did law and order affect sports?
- minimal law and order in society
- lack of police force to enforce laws
- many sports had limited rules and regulations
- rules were localised
- nothing was illegal
how did education and literacy affect sports?
- upper class boys were educated and literate
- working class females were generally illiterate
- working class could only play simple sports with limited rules, upper class could play more sophisticated games
- working class had unwritten rules, upper class had written rules
how did availability of time affect sports?
lower class worked long hours (75 hours a week) whereas upper class had lots of free time
- lower class had no time to participate due to long working hours, upper class had lots of time to participate due to little/no working hours
- lower class had no energy after long working hours
- lower class could only participate on bank holidays which there were few of
how did availability of money affect sports?
- upper-class could afford: sports requiring expensive equipment and specialised facilities, or transport to get there
- lower class had to use natural facilities and equipment
how did availability and type of transport affect sports?
- upper class used horse and cart
- lower class walked
- lower class had to play locally, upper class could play wherever
- Lower class, sports couldn’t have league/cups, upper-class sports could
- Lower class sports didn’t have standardised rules, upper class did
- upper class built sports facilities at home to avoid travelling on poor roads
