The Factors Leading To The Emergence And Development Of Modern Day Sport Flashcards
What was life like before the Industrial Revolution
Before the Industrial Revolution, society followed a feudal system with two main classes: upper-class gentry and lower-class peasants. Life was rural, based on farming and cottage industries. Most lived in villages, with few towns. The gentry owned land; peasants worked it, living by seasonal rhythms. Leisure was minimal, life was harsh, pay was irregular, and violence common. Illiteracy was widespread due to limited education.
Feudal system
term used to describe how society was made up of two classes; the upper class gentry and the lower class peasants
Cottage Industries
Cottage industries were home-based manufacturing where people made goods (e.g., quilts, lace) from raw materials to sell at market towns for extra income.
Popular Recreation
Term used to classify sport and leisure activities that were common among people of Britain before the Industrial Revolution.
Overview of the Emergence and Development of Modern-Day Sport- mob games
In pre-industrial Britain, mob games like Haxey Hood were popular among peasants. They were violent, unorganised, and played on holy days with few rules. Games were local, involved large groups, and reflected limited time and resources due to agricultural work.
Characteristics of mob games
- peasants
- local
- unwritten rules
- cruel
- inexpensive
- Courtly
- rural
- occasional
- wagering
More about the development of mob games
In the 1800s, mob games were popular recreations for lower-class males, played on holy days like Shrove Tuesday. They were unorganised, violent, and involved whole villages. Games reflected rural life—linked to farming seasons, with land used post-harvest. Limited education meant simple rules, and lack of transport made games localised. Played with cheap equipment, fuelled by alcohol, and offering catharsis, they often involved wagering and occasionally had upper-class support. Games lasted all day with no time limits and showed masculinity and community identity.
How did mob games reflect society
• Localized: Due to limited transport, games were specific to villages.
• Spacious: Played in large open areas with few boundaries.
• Simple: Basic rules, reflecting low literacy and understanding.
• Violent: Reflecting the lack of order, male dominance, and a violent society.
• Combat-based: Reflecting the frequency of wars and preparation for battle.
• Occasional: Played during religious holidays, as work took priority.
• Resource-limited: Games used minimal, inexpensive equipment, reflecting lower-class resources.
• Blood sport: Showcasing the brutality and harshness of the time.
What was society like for peasants
- life and sports were hard and cruel
- there life followed the agricultural and religious calendar
- worked till daylight
- infrequent as had work
- localized
- no restrictions
Why was sporting situations associated with the church calendar
- it was seen as times of celebration
- holy days off work
- church lands were for sports
- church seen as a central role
- seen as a social meeting place
- church leaders gave patronage to games
What sports did the gentry (aristocracy take part in)
-The aristocracy engaged in more organized and sophisticated pastimes, such as hunting, archery, fencing, and real tennis.
- These activities were often held on private estates, and they were exclusive, only accessible to the wealthy due to their leisure time, education, and resources.
-These games and sports were more structured, with written rules, and were designed to reflect the social status and refinement of the participants.
- non work based
What sports did peasants take part in
- activities that required no resources as had no money
- no written rules as they were unable to read
- based around violence and preparation for war
Example of a sport played by the gentry
Court games like real tennis and badminton were exclusive to the gentry, requiring purpose-built facilities and expensive equipment, such as hand-made rackets. These games were non-contact, sophisticated, and needed high skill, tactics, and sporting etiquette. They were typically played in royal courts, making them fashionable among the upper classes. The complex rules and need for education made these games inaccessible to the lower classes, with the main barriers being cost, availability of courts, and transportation, which only the wealthy could afford.
Peasants-holy days, festival, wakes
Peasants had limited free time, with few days off compared to modern weekends and holidays. Festivals, fairs, and wakes, often tied to holy days and the farming calendar, were key events for socializing, feasting, and drinking. These gatherings also offered opportunities for courting and for the gentry to hire workers. Popular recreations, like mob games, single stick, and wrestling, were common, with violence often involved. Festivals were typically held near rivers, where bathing and swimming became popular. The church influenced these events, and during the 16th and 17th centuries, clashes between churches impacted the types of activities allowed.
Differences between the leisure pursuits of the gentry and the peasants
Gentry
- courtly
- purpose built facilities
- non violent
- expensive equipment
- complex rules
- played regularly
- structured
- could travel to play
- sophisticated
Peasants
- cruel and violent
- force based
- local
- lower class
- unwritten rules
- natural facilities
Rationalization
This was where multiple games were combined to make 1 activity with a set of rules involving the idea of a melting pot
Codification
is the term used to describe the formal writing and recording of the rules of a sport.
Industrial Revolution
This is period of time in Britain from the late 1700’s to the early 1900’s (18th to 20th Centuries). During this time people moved from the rural areas into towns, and communities developed around factories. The industrial revolution also consisted of the Urban and Transport revolutions as well as great advancements in machinery.
What did the Industrial Revolution mean
The Industrial Revolution, which occurred in the 19th century, saw technological advancements that allowed the gentry to build factories for mass production. The lower classes migrated from rural areas to work in these factories, often living in company-built houses, which factory owners rented out for profit. As more factories were established, villages grew into towns, driven by the influx of workers seeking stable, paid employment in urban areas.
Urbanization
Term used to describe the large scale movement of many lower class people from rural villages to factory towns in search of employment. This resulted in housing developments being built and diminished space to play their traditional mob activities.
What happened as things started to develop
As the Industrial Revolution progressed:
-Work Structure: The working day shifted from being governed by seasons to “machine time,” with workers expected to work long hours, six days a week.
-Harsh Conditions: The working class faced poor living conditions, low pay, child labor, and dangerous factory environments, leading to injuries and deaths.
-Limited Leisure: Pollution, disease, and strenuous work left little time or energy for sports.
-Factory Acts: Over time, laws like the Factory Acts (1833) improved conditions, and the introduction of a half-day Saturday gave workers more free time.
-Paid Leave: By the end of the century, paid holiday leave was introduced, along with pay increases for certain jobs, leading to the rise of the middle class.
-Loss of Open Space: As the lower class moved to factory towns, traditional play areas disappeared, but the need for entertainment remained.
-Sport Evolution: The lack of space led to smaller, structured games with teams, boundaries, and time limits. Eventually, designated sport areas were created, and the development of structured games, particularly in schools, laid the foundation for modern sports.
What happened as the lower class moved from villages to factory towns
The move of the lower class from villages to factory towns led to a loss of open space for traditional, large-scale recreation. With more people concentrated in small areas, entertainment was still needed, but the lack of space meant that mass participation games had to be adapted to smaller teams, structured boundaries, and time limits, reflecting the rigid working hours. Over time, this resulted in the creation of designated sport areas like football or cricket fields, often with space for paying spectators. This shift towards more structured sports was largely influenced by the development of rationalized sport in schools, which helped shape modern organized games.
Industrialisation
led to life based around the factory system and machine time. The old ‘holy’ days were largely lost and work was no longer organised around the seasons – every week was a busy time.
Working conditions
initially were very poor for the lower classes, with long shifts and little free time. The twentieth century saw a gradual increase in free time; legislation brought in the Saturday half day, the Ten Hour Act and early closing for shop workers.