QUIDDITCH THROUGH THE AGES
4th Year - Option Five
Imagine a world without Quidditch. A world without the heated rivalry of the Hogwarts Houses over sports. A world without the friendly banter on the pitch, without players shouting profanities at each other in midair, only to go to grab a lovely butterbeer together after the game is over.
It's hard imagining that, isn't it? Quidditch has become a major part of our everyday life. It has become our favorite pastime activity, either actively playing it or just watching it. But how has this sport developed into what we see today?
It all started in the first millennium AD. The first broomsticks were used for transportation around the year 962. They weren't very comfortable and looked more like a bunch of twigs randomly bound to a stick, splinter related injuries occurred quite often and annoyed the travellers.
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Over the next years, different sports were created and played on the British Isles and in Germany: Aingingein, Creaothceann, Shuntbumps, Stichstock, Swivenhodge. They are either obscure games without widespread popularity, children games, illegal or aren't played at all anymore. But they all contributed to the Quidditch we know and play today.
"The players assemble, twelve fine, hearty men,
They strapped on their cauldrons, stood poised to fly,
At the sound of the horn they were swiftly airborne,
But ten of their number were fated to die."
From a 12th century ballad about Creaothceann
Image of Queersditch Marsh
The first records we have of Quidditch, or Kwidditch as it was known around 1050, come from the witch Gertie Keddle, who lived next to Queerditch March and had to witness groups of witches and wizards play their "stupid game", which she thought was nothing but "pointless rubbish". In her diary, we find notes about the tools and equipment used, as well as some early rules. She wrote about "a big leather ball", "two big, heavy rocks flying around" and the players with the ball "trying to stick it in trees".
Some of the modern positions and balls used are already present, though they went by different names when described.
A Golden Snidget was released during the match, and the player catching it was awarded a prize of 150 Galleons. This was later changed into 150 points during the game. The use during Quidditch also endangered the species, so special rules were created to protect the little golden bird. In the 16th century, Bowman Wright, a metal charmer from Godric's Hollow, created the Golden Snitch to replace the Snidget during Quidditch matches.
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More modifications to the game were made, until it reached its final form by the late 19th century.
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Today, we have competitions like the British and Irish Quidditch League, in which compete for the League Cup as well as a spot in the European Cup. And every four years the Quidditch World Cup occurs, with the best players of the world trying to find the new champion.
HOMEWORK:
1) Research the five predecessors of Quidditch and tell me how they contributed to modern Quidditch.
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2) Create a timeline about the history of Quidditch. Make sure to give short explanations (One or two sentences) for the events you chose to include.
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3) Do one of the following options:
Option A: Imagine you are part of the team that selects the site for the Quidditch World Cup Final. Let's say the next 10 World Cups are scheduled to take place in the countries/regions with the flags from the table below. Pick 3 of them, then try to find a suitable area to host the final. Also explain your reasoning behind your choice.
Option B: Create a small Quidditch League for a different country. Come up with 4 to 6 teams, tell me about their location or provide a map. Make sure they comply with the laws. (We just assume that the laws we have in Britain and Ireland are very similar to those in other countries.)
*credit for this lesson and homework belongs to TheSmartpool