sports in the middle ages
Sports in the Middle Ages were similar to the athletic competitions that are held today, with one major difference. These sports almost completely lacked any regard for the physical health or well-being of the competitors, whether they be the opposing team members or the animals set against each other in mortal combat. Examples of this stunning savagery are apparent in all forms of physical competition, from the bear-baiting and cock fighting to the astoundingly vicious game of football which sometimes pitted entire villages against one another. These graphic descriptions of the blood-thirsty athletic entertainment represent a stunning contrast from the athletic competitions which take place today. In modern sports, human life is held in the highest regard with new rules being added frequently in an attempt to further preserve the physical well-being of the competitors. When one looks at these looks at these drastically different views on athletic competition, it is evident that somewhere along the line a change in the attitude of competitors took place. This attitude change was most likely a direct result of the change in the way that national conflicts were solved. As time progressed, the
The sport of cock fighting, while not an athletic competition, is another good illustration of the Elizabethans' love for violence. The spectacle of two roosters with metal spikes on their ankles attempting to gore each other apparently thrilled the spectators to no end, illustrated by the sport's popularity. This following gruesome testimony by one onlooker describes the spectacle, very sophisticated courses and different shaped balls used to increase both the difficulty and in turn the enjoyment of the contest. Other forms of the game were considerable more violent. In England, this new version of football was called "camp-ball". In Cornwall it was called "hurling", and in whales it was termed "cnapan". In these alternative forms of the game a person could use any method needed, even horses, in an attempt to move the ball across the opponent's goal-line. The injuries were even more frequent and devastating in this variation of the original game of football. The sports and pastimes that many of the commoners and the wealthy enjoyed throughout the Middle Ages seem cruel and dangerous compared to today's standards. As society became more civilized and less violent, people began to regard human life as more precious and human safety as more important. Athletic contests began to reflect this change. Rather than a hand to and fight the death, sporting events became entertaining competition with enforced rules for the safety of the competitor. Today athletes are revered and looked up to as role models by millions of children around the world. So the athletic world has made a full circle from dangerous and unruly to integral part of the culture of our world. practice of the knights who would use similar hand to hand techniques in the frequent wars that took place during this time (Encyclopedia Britannica). During these tournaments many knights were horribly injured or even killed when a lance was driven through their armor or they landed wrong after being knocked off their horse. time and was a favorite of gamblers who would bet money on the results. In fact the game of bowls became so popular that there were public bowling alleys developed with to put food on the table. During the regular week their only free time was on Sundays after they had dutifully attended church. Most of the rest of their free time constituted of holidays such as Saint's Day, Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide (Edwards 40). On the other hand, while managing their large estates took a degree of hard work, the wealthy generally had much more free time during which to enjoy themselves. Certain sports such as tennis and hunting with hounds were almost exclusively reserved for the rich as they required expensive equipment to play. no longer useful for warfare. This goes to show how the method of fighting at the time dictated which sports and how they were played at the time.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Middle Ages, England Elizabethan, Italy Singman, Whitsuntide Edwards, Encyclopedia Britannica, middle ages, hand hand, human life, cock fighting, sport fencing, hand fighting, athletic competition, athletic competitions, game football, game bowls, hand hand fighting, sport cock fighting, attempt move ball, archery popular sport, athletic competition evident,
Approximate Word count = 2098
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
