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What is your favorite pass time?
What is your favorite pass time?
What do you do for fun?
What do you do for fun?
Games are almost as old as the civilisation.
Games are almost as old as the civilisation.
They always have the same things in common: uncertainty of outcome, agreed upon rules, competition, separate place and time, elements of fiction, elements of chance, prescribed goals and personal enjoyment.
They always have the same things in common: uncertainty of outcome, agreed upon rules, competition, separate place and time, elements of fiction, elements of chance, prescribed goals and personal enjoyment.
Board games probably started in the ancient Near East, according to archaeological discoveries.
Board games probably started in the ancient Near East, according to archaeological discoveries.
At the 5,000-year-old burial site of Başur Höyük in southeast Turkey, 49 small carved and painted pieces were found, which may be the oldest game pieces ever discovered.
At the 5,000-year-old burial site of Başur Höyük in southeast Turkey, 49 small carved and painted pieces were found, which may be the oldest game pieces ever discovered.
Similar pieces were also found at Tell Brak and Jemdet Nasr, though only a few. Researchers have nicknamed the Başur Höyük pieces Dogs and Pigs.
Similar pieces were also found at Tell Brak and Jemdet Nasr, though only a few. Researchers have nicknamed the Başur Höyük pieces Dogs and Pigs.
Early board games were mainly played by the wealthy and were sometimes given as gifts between rulers, according to a study published in Antiquity.
Early board games were mainly played by the wealthy and were sometimes given as gifts between rulers, according to a study published in Antiquity.
Ancient version of tic tac toe!
Example of different die from two different Chinese dynasties.
Ancient World (c. 3000 BC – 500 AD)
Ancient World (c. 3000 BC – 500 AD)
In Ancient Egypt, the game of Senet (c. 3500 BC) symbolised the soul’s journey through the afterlife. Mesopotamia produced the Royal Game of Ur (c. 2600 BC), a race game with rules carved into tablets, showing that games had both entertainment and fortune-telling purposes.
In Ancient Egypt, the game of Senet (c. 3500 BC) symbolised the soul’s journey through the afterlife. Mesopotamia produced the Royal Game of Ur (c. 2600 BC), a race game with rules carved into tablets, showing that games had both entertainment and fortune-telling purposes.
Ancient Greek vase, showing Achilles and Ajax playing a game of petteia.
Patoli was a popular game played by Aztecs, Patolli and Mayans.
Chess competinion in 1800s
Miniature game - Little Wars
Soldiers playing card games in 1915
Tabula game in Medieval times.
Royal Game of Ur
Go
The Romans played Latrunculi, a strategy game about capturing opponents, and variations of race and gambling games continued to thrive.
The Romans played Latrunculi, a strategy game about capturing opponents, and variations of race and gambling games continued to thrive.
Medieval Period (c. 500 – 1500 AD)
Medieval Period (c. 500 – 1500 AD)
Viking cultures played Tafl games, such as Hnefatafl, where one side attempted to defend a king against surrounding attackers.
Viking cultures played Tafl games, such as Hnefatafl, where one side attempted to defend a king against surrounding attackers.
From India came Chaturanga, which evolved through Persia into the game of Chess, one of the most influential strategy games in history, still studied and played today.
From India came Chaturanga, which evolved through Persia into the game of Chess, one of the most influential strategy games in history, still studied and played today.
Popular medieval pastimes included Backgammon, which descended from earlier dice and race games.
Popular medieval pastimes included Backgammon, which descended from earlier dice and race games.
By the 14th century, playing cards, which originated in China, had reached Europe and gave rise to countless variations, many of which survive in modern card games.
By the 14th century, playing cards, which originated in China, had reached Europe and gave rise to countless variations, many of which survive in modern card games.
Renaissance & Early Modern (c. 1500 – 1800 AD)
Renaissance & Early Modern (c. 1500 – 1800 AD)
The growth of literacy and printing made playing cards even more widespread, with new suits and rules standardised across Europe.
The growth of literacy and printing made playing cards even more widespread, with new suits and rules standardised across Europe.
Checkers (Draughts) evolved in France. Board games became more commercialised and began to reflect morality or education, such as The Game of the Goose (16th century Italy), one of the first printed board games.
Checkers (Draughts) evolved in France. Board games became more commercialised and began to reflect morality or education, such as The Game of the Goose (16th century Italy), one of the first printed board games.
Leisure became increasingly tied to class and social gatherings.
Leisure became increasingly tied to class and social gatherings.
Industrial & Victorian Era (c. 1800 – 1900)
Industrial & Victorian Era (c. 1800 – 1900)
Parlour games and puzzles flourished in middle-class households.
Parlour games and puzzles flourished in middle-class households.
Well-known games like Snakes and Ladders (imported from India and moralised in Victorian England) and Monopoly’s precursors emerged. Board games often reflected industrial society, nationalism, and colonial expansion.
Well-known games like Snakes and Ladders (imported from India and moralised in Victorian England) and Monopoly’s precursors emerged. Board games often reflected industrial society, nationalism, and colonial expansion.
Game of Mehen
Game of Mehen
Rules
Rules
Deciding who goes first
Both players throw the sticks.
The player with the highest number of coloured sticks showing starts.
Placing counters
On your turn, throw the sticks.
You may only place a counter on the board if exactly one coloured stick is showing.
If more than one coloured stick shows, you miss your turn.
Moving counters
Once all 4 counters are on the snake’s tail, you can move them along the snake’s body.
Move a counter forward by the number of coloured sticks showing.
You can choose which counter to move each turn.
Multiple counters may share the same space.
Reaching the snake’s head
When a counter reaches the snake’s head (centre), turn it around and move it back towards the tail.
When a counter completes the journey back, place your lion counter on the snake’s tail.
Moving the lion
Move the lion along the snake’s body in the same way as other counters.
When the lion reaches the snake’s head, turn it and move it back towards the tail.
On its return, the lion can eat an opponent’s counter if it lands on the same segment.
Lions cannot eat lions.
Winning the game
The winner is the player whose lion has eaten the most counters by the end of the game.
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