For centuries backgammon has been creating quite a stir. Even today, we all spend hours playing this addicting pastime, yet most of us have no idea where it came from or the history it has acquired. Although the game has evolved throughout the years and is now even played online, it is actually the oldest game in history. Also known as the “wee battle,” backgammon began in Mesopotamia (now known as Iraq) about 5000 years ago.
Backgammon may have been a popular game centuries ago, but only people in power were permitted to play. These prevailing figures of royalty included Egyptian pharaohs and kings. However, Egyptians called backgammon “Senat,” which was a similar form of the current game played today. Nevertheless, once the game started to develop and expand worldwide, other cultures soon took notice. Unfortunately, this expansion turned into controversy, especially since the church thought the game was the work of the Devil. For years they tried to ban and burn the game, but backgammon could easily be played without a board. Luckily, the disapproval soon died down and backgammon was back in homes. For instance, Greece took hold of the sport and coined the name “bac gamen.” From there, the English adopted backgammon in the seventeenth century and have stuck with it ever since. The most influential gamer Edmund Hoyle, referred to backgammon as “Tables,” and wrote a book of rules for people who had difficulty understanding the concept. This ultimately put backgammon on the path to fame, as people are still playing the game today.
With the birth of the internet, backgammon has reached an entirely new level. The online version has not only recruited more players, but it has become one of the most downloaded games on the web. Surprisingly, there are thousands of clubs dedicated to online backgammon, as well as special software that you can download to play against others. For instance, motif backgammon has become one of the hottest free backgammon programs, allowing users to easily practice their skills and then compete with others. It can be found by searching for motif backgammon on any search engine including Google. No matter what happens to the internet and online games, backgammon will always be one of the favorites. People love the fact that it is easy yet still requires a lot of attention and skill. With the ability to play backgammon online, it is a sure sign that the addicting pastime will be here to stay.
By Natalie Aranda
Natalie Aranda writes on game, recreation and entertainment.