Video - The Royal Game: Real Tennis in the 16th Century

Did you know that in the 16th century, a game called "Real Tennis" was so popular that it was played by kings, queens, and nobles? The rules were so complex that it required years of practice to master. Players would use wooden rackets to hit a leather ball filled with hair, and the court was often irregularly shaped with walls and sloping floors. Matches could last for days, and spectators would place bets on the outcome. It was a game of skill, strategy, and prestige that defined the social hierarchy of the time.