This is the first full-length scholarly narrative of sports from the fall of Rome to the end of the Middle Ages. Organized into ten chapters, the book discusses various aspects of sports and recreations in feudal society and provides a research tool for scholars and students interested in the sports history of the Middle Ages. The first chapter, The Study of Medieval Sports and Recreations, the bibliographical essay, and the bibliography should be welcome aids to anyone with an interest in further research on the subject.
After the beginning chapter on the historiography of sports in the Middle Ages, the book looks at the evidence of sports and recreations in late antiquity. Next the volume focuses on the close relationship between sports and war in feudal society and examines how knights of the High Middle Ages developed and promoted sports reputations. Subsequent chapters deal with sports and the church, sports reflected in art, peasant pastimes and women's recreations. Sports Violence in Medieval Society, investigates the violence that sometimes accompanied sports or recreations. The last chapter highlights two medieval persons who have a relation to sports: William Fitzstephen, the twelfth-century writer who left a vivid account of London sports, and William Marshal, the famed tournament professional. The bibliographical essay and select bibliography close out the book. The work fills gaps in both the literature on medieval civilization and the literature of sports history.

- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Contents
- Preface
- Chapter 1. The Study of Medieval Sports and Recreations, 1927–1991
- Chapter 2. The Societies and Their Perceptions of Sports and Recreations
- Chapter 3. Sports in Pre-Feudal Europe
- Chapter 4. Sports, Recreations, and War in Feudal Europe
- Chapter 5. Sports and the Public Person: Establishing a Reputation and Promoting It in the High Middle Ages
- Chapter 6. Sports, Recreations, and the Church in Feudal Society
- Chapter 7. Sports and Recreations Reflected in Art
- Chapter 8. Sports, Recreations, and the Social Order
- Chapter 9. Sports Violence in Medieval Society
- Chapter 10. Two Medieval Sportspeople
- Select Bibliography
- Index
- About the Author
- eCopyright
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn how to download books offline
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.5M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1.5 million books across 990+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn about our mission
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more about Read Aloud
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS and Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Yes, you can access Medieval Games by John M. Carter in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & European Medieval History. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.