The chess game has a long and rich history tracing back centuries into the ancient annals of human society. Like any form of invention or ingenious creation, chess was preceded by numerous forerunners that, over time, evolved into the profound game that we know and enjoy today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a consensus among historians that the ancestry of chess can be traced to the Gupta Empire in India some 1500 years ago. Before this time, numerous board games existed, some even as old as several thousand years, dating back to Ancient Egypt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Games such as senet of Ancient Egypt and limbo of Ancient China possessed vague similarities to chess, such as boards divided into squares and pawn pieces as in the case of senet, however not enough semblance to be considered as predecessors of chess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the 6th century, a board game called chaturanga originated in the Gupta Empire of modern-day India, and what would later become known as chess was effectively born. Some historians argue that earlier forms of chaturanga or chess can be traced back to the Kushan Empire of Ancient Afghanistan, yet most agree that earlier forms of the game are difficult to define and thus leave its origins uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game of chaturanga had enough undeniable similarities with chess to warrant being considered the earliest form of the game. The word chaturanga translates into “four divisions of the military”, which is represented by pieces in the shape of infantry, cavalry, elephantry, and chariotry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over time these pieces would evolve into the pawn, knight, bishop, and rook of modern-day chess. Chaturanga possessed two classic similarities to chess. All future variations would be designed – multiple pieces with unique capabilities and a single piece that determines victory or defeat, the king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to its popularity, it was not long before chaturanga was introduced to other cultures and civilizations. It first appeared in the Persian Empire (modern-day Iran) not long after its roots were traced in India. Chaturanga became immensely popular amongst Persian nobility, who began referring to the game as shatranj. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During this time early chess was further refined as players began exclaiming “Shah!” which is the Persian word for a king when attacking the opponent’s king, and “Shah Mat,” which stands for “the king is helpless” when in a checkmate. These expressions were pronounced in various languages as early chess spread through the land and became a defining characteristic of the game (notice the similar pronunciation in English).<\/p>\n\n\n