Human beings have always found ways to socialize and challenge each other. Popular board, strategy, and casino games that people enjoy today were created long ago in history.
These games offer a history lesson in how creative and brilliant humans have always been. Here are the historical origins of some games that remain popular today.
Blackjack: Possible Roots in France
You either reach 21, fall short, bust, or get Blackjack. Such a straightforward game like Blackjack has so many strategies and possibilities. This is a big reason that the game is so timeless and universal.
Today, online blackjack is one of the most popular games around the world. The game has evolved into variants like Blackjack Switch, Buster Blackjack and Blackjack Surrender. While today’s Blackjack player can compete on sites with modern technology and live dealers, the game has deep historic roots that predate the internet by centuries.
The exact origin of the game is unclear and debated. The most universally agreed upon historical point marks Blackjack as a popular casino game in France in the early 1700s. There, the game is called Vingt-et-Un, which is the number 21 in French. The game spread to North America via French colonists, which is why it remains such a popular game on the continent.
Chess: Origins in India
Chess is the ultimate game of strategy, wits, and patience. This is why people often make chess references when describing a match of strategy between two entities.
The game works the mind so much that researchers say chess can raise IQ by improving your spatial and perspective awareness. It’s one of the most popular tournament games, and features some of the most high-level play of any competition all over the world.
Chess has roots in India all the way back to 600 AD, making chess one of the oldest games in the world. The game spread all over the world throughout many eras of civilization. Muslims throughout the 10th century played a large role in the spread of chess. They took the game to Sicily, North Africa, Spain, and other areas.
Billiards: Northern European Origins
Today, you can find a pool hall in countries all over the world. It’s a game that has competitors at the pro level, and is a favorite pastime for many people. Having a pool table can be seen as a status symbol and social tool.
Before the modern state of pool, the game had origins in Northern Europe. It was a lawn game long before the playing field shrunk and was put onto a table. In the 15th Century, the game existed as a lawn game more similar to croquet.
This is why even to this day, pool tables feature a type of green-colored cloth as the surface. The green cloth was chosen to emulate a grass lawn. Over the next centuries, the rules and playing environment evolved into the game of pool that we play today.
Games and History Go Hand in Hand
Human beings have always found a way to bond, strategize, and compete through games. These timeless forms of entertainment are examples of how creative human beings have always been. Take it as a history lesson the next time you decide to play one of your favorite games.