Pre industrial sport Flashcards
What does cultural mean
The set of beliefs and customs that leads us to behave in a particular way within out community
What time does pre industrial refer to
Pre 1750
Why did sport emerge in Britain
Prepare population for war, hunt for food, improve ability to work, celebrations/festivals
What was social class like in pre industrial Britain
Two classes:
- Upper: Aristocracy or gentry (land owners)
- Lower: Peasants (manual workers)
What are the 6 main sports associated with pre industrial Britain
Mob football, animal baiting/hunting, real tennis, cricket, pedestrianism, holy day fair
What was mob football in pre industrial Britain
Mass game with few rules and equipment, violent, lower class
What was animal baiting/hunting in pre industrial Britain
Excessive gambling, no laws to limit violence or animal cruelty
- Lower class: Bare knuckle fighting, dog fighting
- Upper class: Cock fighting, fox hunting
What was real tennis in pre industrial Britain
Upper class only, first form of tennis from France, very complicated rules, long lasting game at large venue
What was cricket in pre industrial Britain
Often associated with local public houses (pubs), plenty of space due to rural land, mostly upper class:
- Lower class professionals: Bowling
- Gentry amateurs: Batters
What was pedestrianism in pre industrial Britain
Competitive race walking, came from footmen (ran alongside horse and cart), all classes:
- Lower class: participated
- Upper class: Patrons - agents and sponsors (bet on footmen)
What was holy day fairs in pre industrial Britain
Range of events that brought whole city together, took place on religious holidays (only free time for working class), separate events for women e.g smock race, archery for upper class
What are the 6 key social factors related to pre industrial sport in Britain
- Gender
- Law and order
- Education / literacy
- Availability of time
- Money
- Transport
What is gender as a social factor of pre industrial sport in Britain
Women seen as weaker sex and not allowed to do dangerous / strenuous activities. Significant lack of opportunity, upper class women - hawking and archery, lower class women - smock racing (prize was a dress), both classes participated in dancing and horse riding
What is law and order as a social factor of pre industrial sport in Britain
No formal police force, meaning peasants were free to participate in violent sports (mob football, bare knuckle fighting), and blood sports (cockfighting, animal baiting) which became banned in the industrial revolution
What is education / literacy as a social factor of pre industrial sport in Britain
Upper class were educated and literate, meaning they could participate in sophisticated sports such as real tennis, with complex rules. Working class were mostly uneducated and illiterate, meaning they partook in simple sports with no written rules, e.g. mob football
What is availability of time as a social factor of pre industrial sport in Britain
Lower class worked very long hours, so sport had to be short and immediately entertaining, e.g catching pigs. Mob football was confirmed to holy days or annual festivals, and other sports revolved around public houses (pubs). Upper class had more spare time so participated in longer activities e.g fox hunting
What is availability of money as a social factor of pre industrial sport in Britain
Upper class could afford equipment e.g horses and clothing, and could own enough land to partake in real tennis. The Aristocracy built themselves facilities in their homes e.g hampton court palace by king Henry VIII
What is transport as a social factor of pre industrial sport in Britain
Road quality was very poor, therefore most activities for working class were local and in walking distance. Upper class could travel some distance by horse and carriage but were still limited by road conditions
What were some other factors that affected sport participation in pre industrial Britain
No technology, no NHS - poor life expectancy, limited communication
