Expert: PD - 3/27/2006

Question
I am a senior at Shaler Area High School and our C.P. English class is forming an encyclopedia of "burning questions" for our school library. My question is: who invented the first board game and why or how did they invent it? Please send me a response as soon as possible. Thank you for your time.

Lauren Veselic

Answer
History

Board games have a long history and have been played in most cultures and societies; some even pre-date literacy skill development in the earliest civilizations. A number of important historical sites, artifacts and documents exist which shed light on early board games. The most of important of these include:

"Senet" has been found in Predynastic and First Dynasty burials of Egypt, c. 3500 BC and 3100 BC respectively. Senet is the oldest board game known to have existed. Also see "Okno do svita deskovych her" for a photo of the actual fresco found in Merknera's tomb (3300-2700 BC).
"Mehen" is another ancient board game from Predynastic Egypt.

The Royal Tombs of Ur contained, among others, the Royal Game of Ur. They were excavated by C. Leonard Woolley, but his books document little on the games found. Most of the games he excavated are now housed in the British Museum in London.

Buddha games list is the earliest known list of games.

Please use this link as a know-it-all for all your board game questions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_game

Enjoy!