History Board game

1 history

1.1 ancient board games
1.2 europe
1.3 united states
1.4 21st century

history
ancient board games


senet, 1 of oldest known board games



hounds , jackals (egypt, 13th dynasty)

board games have been played in cultures , societies throughout history. number of important historical sites, artifacts, , documents shed light on board games such as:

jiroft civilization gameboards
senet, found in predynastic , first dynasty burials of egypt, c. 3500 bc , 3100 bc respectively; oldest board game known have existed, senet pictured in fresco found in merknera s tomb (3300–2700 bc)
mehen, predynastic egypt
backgammon, originated in ancient persia on 5,000 years ago
chess, originated in india
pachisi , chaupar, india
go, originating in china
liubo, originating in china
shax, originating in somalia
bao (mancala game), played throughout eastern africa
patolli, originating in mesoamerica played ancient aztec
royal game of ur, royal tombs of ur contain game, among others, dating mesopotamia 4,600 years ago
buddha games list, earliest known list of games

europe



box board games, c. 15th century, walters art museum


united states

in 17th , 18th century colonial america, agrarian life of country left little time game playing though draughts (checkers), bowling, , card games not unknown. pilgrims , puritans of new england frowned on game playing , viewed dice instruments of devil. when governor william bradford discovered group of non-puritans playing stool-ball, pitching bar, , pursuing other sports in streets on christmas day, 1622, confiscated implements, reprimanded them, , told them devotion day should confined homes.

in thoughts on lotteries (1826) thomas jefferson wrote:

almost these pursuits of chance [i.e., of human industry] produce useful society. there produce nothing, , endanger well-being of individuals engaged in them or of others depending on them. such games cards, dice, billiards, etc. , although pursuit of them matter of natural right, yet society, perceiving irresistible bent of of members pursue them, , ruin produced them families depending on these individuals, consider case of insanity, quoad hoc, step in protect family , party himself, in other cases of insanity, infancy, imbecility, etc., , suppress pursuit altogether, , natural right of following it. there other games of chance, useful on occasions, , injurious when carried beyond useful bounds. such insurances, lotteries, raffles, etc. these not suppress, take regulation under own discretion.

the board game traveller s tour through united states , sister game traveller’s tour through europe published new york city bookseller f. & r. lockwood in 1822 , today claims distinction of being first board game published in united states.

as u.s. shifted agrarian urban living in 19th century, greater leisure time , rise in income became available middle class. american home, once center of economic production, became locus of entertainment, enlightenment, , education under supervision of mothers. children encouraged play board games developed literacy skills , provided moral instruction.

the mansion of happiness (1843)

the earliest board games published in united states based upon christian morality. mansion of happiness (1843), example, sent players along path of virtues , vices led mansion of happiness (heaven). game of pope or pagan, or siege of stronghold of satan christian army (1844) pitted image on board of hindu woman committing suttee against missionaries landing on foreign shore. missionaries cast in white symbol of innocence, temperance, , hope while pope , pagan cast in black, color of gloom of error, and ... grief @ daily loss of empire .

commercially produced board games in mid-19th century monochrome prints laboriously hand-colored teams of low-paid young factory women. advances in paper making , printmaking during period enabled commercial production of relatively inexpensive board games. significant advance development of chromolithography, technological achievement made bold, richly colored images available @ affordable prices. games cost little us$.25 small boxed card game $3.00 more elaborate games.

american protestants believed virtuous life led success, belief challenged mid-century when country embraced materialism , capitalism. in 1860, checkered game of life rewarded players mundane activities such attending college, marrying, , getting rich. daily life rather eternal life became focus of board games. game first focus on secular virtues rather religious virtues, , sold 40,000 copies first year.

game of district messenger boy (1886)

game of district messenger boy, or merit rewarded, published in 1886 new york city firm of mcloughlin brothers, 1 of first board games based on materialism , capitalism published in united states. game typical roll-and-move track board game. players move tokens along track @ spin of arrow toward goal @ track s end. spaces on track advance player while others send him back.

in affluent 1880s, americans witnessed publication of algeresque rags riches games permitted players emulate capitalist heroes of age. 1 of first such games, game of district messenger boy, encouraged idea lowliest messenger boy ascend corporate ladder topmost rung. such games insinuated accumulation of wealth brought increased social status. competitive capitalistic games culminated in 1935 monopoly, commercially successful board game in u.s. history.

mcloughlin brothers published similar games based on telegraph boy theme including game of telegraph boy, or merit rewarded (1888). greg downey notes in essay, information networks , urban spaces: case of telegraph messenger boy , families afford deluxe version of game in chromolithographed, wood-sided box not have sent sons out such rough apprenticeship in working world.

margaret hofer described period of 1880s–1920s golden age of board gaming in america. board game popularity boosted, of many items, through mass production, made them cheaper , more available. although there no detailed statistics, scholars suggest 20th century saw decline in popularity of hobby.

21st century

the number of board games published year (1900–2014), listed on boardgamegeek. expansion sets existing games marked in red.

the late 1990s onwards have seen substantial growth in reach , market of board games. has been attributed to, among other factors, internet, has made easier people find out games , find opponents play against. around year 2000 board gaming industry began significant growth companies producing rising number of new games sold growing worldwide audience. in 2010s, number of publications referred board games having new golden age. board game venues growing in popularity; example board game cafes reported popular in china.