You might have played chess or seen others playing it. But do you how chess was originated, who invented it? So, in this session, we will be finding answers to this question. So, let's get started...
While our earliest chess record is in the 7th century, legend tells that the game's origin lies a century before. So, let's get into the story.
When the youngest prince of the Gupta Empire in India was killed in battle, his brother invented a way of representing the scene to their grieving mother. Set on 8x8 'Astapada' board used for other pastimes. A new game emerged, in which there were different rules for different types of pieces, and a single king piece whose fate determined the outcome. The game was originally known as 'Chaturanga', a Sanskrit word for "four divisions".
With its spread in Persia, it acquired its present name and terminology- "Chess" derived from "Shah" meaning king, and "Checkmate" from "Shahmat" meaning the king is helpless. After the 7th-century Islamic conquest of Persia, chess was introduced to the Arab world, and there, chess got a new face. Medieval Trade along the silk route carried the game to the East to Southeast Asia, where many local variations developed. In China, pieces were placed at the intersection of board squares, rather than inside them, it was named Go. The reign of Mongol leader Tamerlane saw an 11x10 board with safe squares called citadels. And in Japanese Shogi, captured pieces could be used by opposing player.
In Europe, chess began to take its modern form. By 1000AD, the game had became a part of courtly education. At the same time, the Church became suspicious of this game. Moralists cautioned against devoting too much time to the game, with chess being banned in France. Finally, in the 15th-century chess became exactly the same as what we see today. The relatively weak piece advisor was recast as the more powerful queen. It was inspired by the ruling of powerful female leaders. Then chess theory was born. With Enlightenment Era, the game moved from royal courts to coffeehouses. With this chess, championships started internationally and then it get into computers.
Tags:
History