Sport & Society: Pre-Industrial Britain Flashcards
State the stages of sport development
Popular recreation
Industrialisation
Rational recreation
Post industrialisation
What is the time period of pre-industrial Britain?
Pre-1780
State the characteristics/ socio-cultural factors of pre industrial Britain. (6)
- Limited communication and transport
- Very clear class divisions - two tier - based on feudal system
- Feudal system - UC owned land, and LC worked on land for little return
- Widespread illiteracy - LC uneducated
- LC often led cruel + violent lives whilst upper class lived in comfort and luxury
- LC worked very long hours on agriculture, so had very limited free time
- People lived in countryside/ rural areas
Define the term ‘popular recreation’
The sport and pastimes of people in pre-industrial Britain.
List the characteristics of popular recreational activities. (8)
- Occasional and restricted to annual holidays as the LC had very long working hours and breaks in agriculture calendar allowed their participation (e.g. Holy days, festivals)
- Limited transport, so activities were local and specific to each community
- Used natural resources such as land
- Rules were basic/ limited and were not written down
- Aggressive and male dominated
- Often involved damage to property
- Injuries were the norm
- UC would bet on the LC
Give an example of an activity that falls under the category of popular recreation.
Mob football
Why were popular recreational activities eventually banned as the 19th century progressed? (5)
- The activities were violent
- Often involved damage to property
- Usually involved injury/ death
- involved gambling
- Linked to alcohol and drunken behaviour
State the characteristics of Real Tennis. (7)
- Exclusive to upper class
- Complex rules that were written down, understood and applied
- Male dominated
- Lack of violence/ high moral code
- Specialist equipment
- Purpose built facilities
- Non-local
What is Real Tennis also known as?
Royal Tennis
What was athletics known as in reference to popular recreational activities?
Foot racing
Pedestrianism
What did athletics involve?
It involved footmen competing as messengers for the upper class regarding their speed of movement across land.
The UC would place bets and act as patrons to their working class performers.
If the UC person’s footman went the furthest, then their status as a gentleman would increase.
Festival occasion.
