Medieval Sports Interesting facts and information about life and the lives of men and women in the

Medieval period of the Middle Ages Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages - Sporting Contests

Feudalism can be well described as a Pyramid of Power. It was possible for everyone to move higher up the ranks of the pyramid and this is what everyone aspired to do. A Knight who proved valiant in battle or was successful at jousting in tournaments would become wealthy. His wealth could pay for a castle. His importance in the land would increase and he would join the nobility. A peasant who excelled in Medieval sports of the Middle Ages could win a purse at a Sporting contest, gain an important reputation and increased value by his lord and his position in life would improve. Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages - The Tournaments and Jousting

The really big sporting events were the Tournaments and the Jousts. These sports were dangerous, men were killed at tournaments. Quintain and Pell Training were essential for the Knights who participated in these sports. Feudal Lords and Knights used such weapons as swords, lances, daggers and battle axes and many Medieval sports were designed to provide practise of such skills. Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages - Archery

Archery was not just one of the Medieval sports of the Middle Ages. Lower Class men were required to practise archery by law! The first Medieval Archery Law was passed in 1252 when all Englishmen between the age of 15 to 60 years old were ordered, by Law, to equip themselves with a bow and arrows. The areas designated for archery training during the Medieval period of the Middle Ages were called the Butts. The power of the longbow was so great that at the Battle of Crecy, in 1346, the French army was decimated. It is estimated that nearly 2000 French knights and soldiers were killed by the longbow arrows. The English lost just 50 men. This explains why Archery Laws were passed and why training at the Butts was so important and included as one of the most important Medieval sports in the Middle Ages! Different Types of Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages

There were many different types of Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages. The majority of which were designed to increase skills and fitness of fighting men. The sports included the following: Archery - Archery contests were especially popular

Bowls

Colf - the ancestor of Golf ( a sport for the nobles)

Gameball - a simple football game

Hammer-throwing

Hurling or Shinty - a similar game to hockey

Horseshoes - throwing horseshoes at a target

Jousting at Tournaments

Quarter-staff contests

Skittles - an ancestor of modern ten-pin bowling

Stoolball - an ancestor of Cricket

Wrestling Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages

Each section of this Middle Ages website addresses all topics and provides interesting facts and information about these great people and events in bygone Medieval times including Medieval Sports. The Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of the Middle Ages! Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages

Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages - Sporting Contests

Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages - The Tournaments and Jousting

Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages - Archery

Different Types of Medieval Sports in the Middle Ages

Life for Middle Ages Men and Women