A World of Games

Heading into the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens is a perfect time to learn when and where some of today’s most popular games originated.

Sound the trumpets for a little history lesson. Games have been played and traveled the world for over 5000 years. The origin of many ancient games can be traced to Africa and to the Orient. The earliest games, known as Mancala, date as far back as 5000 B.C.; variations of some of these original Mancala games are still played in many places, especially Africa. A Senat gameboard - an ancient Egyptian game of strategy and chance and a forerunner to backgammon - was discovered in 1922 where it had been buried in the tomb of King Tut since about 3000 B.C.

The oldest board known showing the game of Nine Men's Morris, also called Mill or Morelles, was also found in Egypt. The simple nine-piece board game was popular in the 14th century, but earlier versions with fewer than nine pieces have been found dating back to 1400 BC.

Go, an ancient game from Japan, is still a favorite there and has earned a great following in the United States. Mah Jongg, the game that became a craze in the U.S. in the early 1920s (and appears to be making a comeback), had been the game of China since the late 1800s.

Checkers, called Draughts in England and elsewhere, dates back to the 12th century. The Origins of Chess are a bit cloudy. Some findings indicate India in 600 A.D., others point to China before 200 A.D. And Backgammon,a variation of a game called Tabula, dates somewhere in the 1st century.

The oldest sets of Dominoes – which are actually flattened dice – date to the early 12th century. The early sets of this international favorite, as well as most Oriental versions, have one to six "pips" on half the block and do not have any blank halves. Dominoes found their way to Europe some time in the early 18th century making their first appearance in Italy.

One European favorite that at various times has had a following in the United States is Fox and Geese which had its origin around the year 1300, possibly in Iceland. The Game of Goose, which originated around 1500, is another classic game we borrowed from Europe. By way of contrast, the earliest known American Game of Goose was printed in 1851.

Games played today in the United States and many other countries were around a long time ago, though sometimes under a different name. Othello, was brought over from Japan and won an award for "best new game" in 1976. But the same game, with a slight variation in the limited opening move, was played throughout the U.S. in the 1950s as Reversi, its European name. Reversi came to the U.S. from England where it was invented in the 1880s.

Pick Up Sticks was played by both European and American children in the 1880s. Then the game was known as Jack Straws in the U.S., and in Europe as Spilikins, a name still used today. The sticks, now long, thin, and smooth, were often shaped like farmer's tools or spears and lances. Some sets were made of bone or ivory rather than the usual wood. Now, of course, many sets are plastic.