History Of Backgammon

The origins of backgammon are lost in time, as is the claim to its creation. Some sets have been found in what is now Iraq that dates back to over five thousand years ago. But the basics of the game are probably much more ancient than that. If we were to take an Insider?s view of the game, we could easily find elements of backgammon that has its foundations in the cave drawings of the Neanderthals, who threw bone shaped dice objects onto the floor for amusement.

What we do know for sure is that the game and the name can be linked to the welsh word cammaun - meaning small battle.

In many ways this explanation is perhaps the most accurate and descriptive of the game that we have found. There are also many other historical links to the game, in fact not many civilisations throughout history have not had their hands on backgammon pieces in one way or another.

When Nero wasn?t watching Rome burn and playing his fiddle, he was cheating at backgammon. King Tutankhamen was entombed with a Senat set, a form of backgammon, so he could to play presumably in the after life. If he could find someone to play with! When they weren?t chasing after the Holy Grail, Knights of the Crusades were also said to be keen on the game. The irony of that is their enemy on the other side of the fence, were also playing the same game. But backgammon is not a game confined to Europe or the Middle East.

China, the Americas and India can all quote some form of the game, emphasizing its roots go much deeper than what is catalogued.

During the time of Henry the VIII it was outlawed and boards were burned, but it was revived by his Daughter Queen Elizabeth I who introduced the game to court where it enjoyed the royal favour, with the rules and practices finally formalized.

In fact backgammon remained a firm pastime or recreation of the aristocracy, for decades as Kings and Queens were far more likely to have been seen playing the game than the common person.

But eventually it fell out of fashion, when other games took over. Its popularity did not rise again until the roaring twenties in the USA when the revolutionary doubling cube came into play. This kick-started backgammon and it began to be played again.

What finally changed the game forever was the introduction of the internet, and its ability to mass produce players from all lands and from all cultures. The game had been reborn and technology was its father.

Send To A Friend

Add This Gambling Article To:
Del.icio.us	Digg	Google	Spurl
Furl	Simpy	Y! MyWeb	OnlyWire
Redit	StumbleUpon	Technocrati