Backgammon: origins and evolution
The game of backgammon is as old as civilization one might dare to say, and that is not far from the truth. Gammon has its origins in in Mesopotamia from the times of the Persian empire. Due to its simple rules and yet to the exciting ongoing of the game it quickly spread and survived the armies of Alexander the Great and later the Roman legions. Romans then spread it to all the corners of Europe. Traders also took it from the middle-east to the far-east.
In its early days the surface of the board was made of wood, while the markers were made of pieces of stone. The material used for the dice was also varied. They were made of stone, wood, or even of bones or pottery for the higher classes. In writings dating from that period it was often referred to as Senat.
Upon its arrival to the British islands in the first century it was known under the same name of Tabula, but by the 6th century a new name started replacing the old name. Alea or "the art of gambling with dice" coincides with the time when its players started using two dice instead of three as in the case of Tabula. Yet there were many variants of the game, especially with concern to starting positions and moves.
The game became popular to the masses at the beginning of the last century, although its popularity often shifted. In the US the rules of the game were again changed to become the game we enjoy playing so much today. In the second half of the last century several people through their actions further helped to the popularization of backgammon.
As today, tournaments were organized. Also many books on gammon were published. The true outburst of backgammon came in the 1990's with the dawns of the Internet technologies. Now you can find many sites that offer free software where you can play practice your gammon skills. Yet, if you want to play for money or you want to be part of online tournament you should pay attention to the sites you want to use.
As you may have already noticed we do our homework regularly and pick out for you the most reliable backgammon sites, those that offer great comps and a great gaming experience.
In its early days the surface of the board was made of wood, while the markers were made of pieces of stone. The material used for the dice was also varied. They were made of stone, wood, or even of bones or pottery for the higher classes. In writings dating from that period it was often referred to as Senat.
- The game not only survived to the conquering nations but it also has also evolved to the exciting game as we know it today. The first backgammon boards were divided into 3x10, 3x12, and 3x6 squares. Archaeologists have found many artifacts in the Middle-East, Egypt but also in Greece and Italy. These are proves of how popular this game was even back in ancient times.
An important step in the development of backgammon was its Roman period. Back then it was called Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum (The Game of 12 Lines) a 3x12 board. Boards were already covered in leather, and markers made of ebony and ivory, 15 of each.
Upon its arrival to the British islands in the first century it was known under the same name of Tabula, but by the 6th century a new name started replacing the old name. Alea or "the art of gambling with dice" coincides with the time when its players started using two dice instead of three as in the case of Tabula. Yet there were many variants of the game, especially with concern to starting positions and moves.
- The first written proof of the game in English was under the name of "Tables". It was very popular in the middle ages but its position was at times threatened by chess another trendy game of those times.
Backgammon and chess still dispute their supremacy in the area of board games, yet often the two games were played on the two sides of the same board. But for backgammon there were times when it was even banned due to its gambling nature.
As for the term "Backgammon", it started to be used in the mid of the 17th century and is a combination of two terms, the Saxon "baec" (back) and "gamen" (game). Another explanation of the term, yet less likely, would be the Welsh "bac"(little) "gammon"(battle).
The game became popular to the masses at the beginning of the last century, although its popularity often shifted. In the US the rules of the game were again changed to become the game we enjoy playing so much today. In the second half of the last century several people through their actions further helped to the popularization of backgammon.
As today, tournaments were organized. Also many books on gammon were published. The true outburst of backgammon came in the 1990's with the dawns of the Internet technologies. Now you can find many sites that offer free software where you can play practice your gammon skills. Yet, if you want to play for money or you want to be part of online tournament you should pay attention to the sites you want to use.
As you may have already noticed we do our homework regularly and pick out for you the most reliable backgammon sites, those that offer great comps and a great gaming experience.
