Sport and Society - Pre-industrial/Pre 1780

Question 1

Define feudal system

Answer 1

a way of structuring society around a relationship defined from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour

Question 2

Define popular recreation

Answer 2

The sport and pastimes of people in pre-industrial Britain

Question 3

Name 3 characteristics of popular recreation

Answer 3

Limited written rules
Violent
Infrequent
Large rural areas
Specific to each community
Little use of equipment

Question 4

How did limited written rules in popular recreation reflect society?

Answer 4

Because… most of society was illiterate, so rules were made simple

Question 5

How did popular recreation being violent reflect society?

Answer 5

Because… most of society lived a harsh lifestyle and were uncivilised

Question 6

How did popular recreation being played infrequently reflect society?

Answer 6

Because… members of society had very little time away from work, so could only play on holy days

Question 7

How did popular recreation being played over large rural areas reflect society?

Answer 7

Because… mob football was played over large and undefined areas

Question 8

How did popular recreation being specific to each community reflect society?

Answer 8

Because… there was a lack of transport/communication to allows towns and villages to share rules

Question 9

How did the lack of equipment involved in popular recreation reflect society?

Answer 9

Because… Members of the lower class in the two-class society had very little disposable income

Question 10

Name 3 reasons why sports such as mob football were banned

Answer 10

• They were violent or unruly in nature
• They led to injury or death in extreme cases
• They led to damage of property
• They involved gambling/wagering
• They were linked to alcohol consumption

Question 11

During pre-industrial Britain, what kind of sports did the lower class play?

Answer 11

Mob sports

Question 12

During pre-industrial Britain, what kind of sports did the upper class play?

Answer 12

Real tennis

Question 13

Name one similarity between mob football and real tennis

Answer 13

Both involved wagering/gambling

Question 14

Identify 3 characteristics of Real Tennis

Answer 14

Played by the upper class
Written rules
Non-violent
Played often
Purpose built facilities
Not always local

Question 15

How did real tennis being played by the upper class reflect the gentry?

Answer 15

Because… in a two-class society, there was very little mixing between the upper and lower class

Question 16

How did real tennis having written rules reflect the gentry?

Answer 16

Because… the upper class were educated and able to understand the rules

Question 17

How did real tennis being non-violent reflect the gentry?

Answer 17

Because… middle class sports were reliant on skill and technique

Question 18

How did real tennis being played often reflect the gentry?

Answer 18

Because… the middle class had more free time available to take part in sport

Question 19

How did real tennis being played in purpose built facilities reflect the gentry?

Answer 19

Because… the middle class had enough disposable income to pay for memberships to specialist facilities

Question 20

How did real tennis not always being played locally reflect the gentry?

Answer 20

Because… the middle class had access to transport