The Backgammon Board Game Has Stood the Test of Time

<h1>The Backgammon Board Game Has Stood the Test of Time</h1>Author: <a title="Gene Marshall" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/gene-marshall/16106.htm">Gene Marshall</a> With all the amazing social and technological changes over the last five thousands years of human history, the way the <a href="http://www.gammonish.com">backgammon board game</a> has stood the test of time is quite amazing. Researchers have discovered that the origins of the familiar backgammon setup – the board divided into its twenty-four alternately colored, narrow triangular divisions, the fifteen counters per player, the dice and the dice shaker, all have a story to tell going back to the earliest recorded times. The exact inventor of the game of backgammon has been lost in the mists of time. All the evidence points to him or her having lived in the area now absorbed by the modern states of Iraq and Iran but no personal details have survived.

So, it must be left to the imagination to picture the first backgammon set up in the market place of a mud brick village after the hard day’s labor in the fields has come to a close and the workers seek to relax. We may wonder who was the first one to carve out the divisions of the backgammon board, to shake the dice and probably place the smooth stones that might have served for counters in their positions? Although it is unlikely the identity of the game’s inventor is ever going to be revealed in some archaeological dig, millions of people from all around the world can feel a sense of gratitude to this unknown figure for creating one of their favorite games.

The Romans soon caught on to the potential of the backgammon for gambling and enthusiasm for the game reached the throne of Caesar himself. Certainly, we can say it contributed to Roman civilization far more than the more bloodthirsty pastimes the Romans beloved. Wherever the Roman Empire reached, its soldiers and merchants brought the game of backgammon. The game became very popular in Europe and from here it was taken to the Americas. By the eighteenth century the backgammon instructions were brought to the printing house by an English player and game continued to go from strength to strength. The development of mass manufacturing and the retail trade made cheap, mass-produced backgammon sets readily available and through presents to children, many more new players were introduced to the game.

The last fifteen years or so have witnessed a dramatic explosion in interest in backgammon. For the most part this has been the consequence of the successful development of backgammon software. Many Internet sites offer a backgammon download that brings a brilliant 3-D virtual version of backgammon to the computer screen. By providing clear instructions on how to play backgammon, and offering free backgammon online, the gaming site developers have attracted a whole new audience. The people playing backgammon online range from the experienced players who are well versed in <a href="http://www.backgammonmasters.com">backgammon strategy</a> and convinced they can win significant cash with their playing and gambling skills, to the novice players who enjoy the chance to build up their skills by playing against a sophisticated backgammon computer. When grouped together they represent a major advancement of an ancient game into an ultra-modern settingAbout the Author: Renowned backgammon enthusiast Gene Marshall works for a number of distinguished internet backgammon publications. He focuses on commentaries about the <a href="http://www.backgammonmasters.com">backgammon board</a> setup and <a href="http://www.gammonish.com">backgammon strategy</a>. More articles published by Gene Marshall related to backgammon are available on the net.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/the-backgammon-board-game-has-stood-the-test-of-time-154592.html" title="The Backgammon Board Game Has Stood the Test of Time">The Backgammon Board Game Has Stood the Test of Time</a>

With all the amazing social and technological changes over the last five thousands years of human history, the way the backgammon board game has stood the test of time is quite amazing. Researchers have discovered that the origins of the familiar backgammon setup – the board divided into its twenty-four alternately colored, narrow triangular divisions, the fifteen counters per player, the dice and the dice shaker, all have a story to tell going back to the earliest recorded times. The exact inventor of the game of backgammon has been lost in the mists of time. All the evidence points to him or her having lived in the area now absorbed by the modern states of Iraq and Iran but no personal details have survived.

So, it must be left to the imagination to picture the first backgammon set up in the market place of a mud brick village after the hard day’s labor in the fields has come to a close and the workers seek to relax. We may wonder who was the first one to carve out the divisions of the backgammon board, to shake the dice and probably place the smooth stones that might have served for counters in their positions? Although it is unlikely the identity of the game’s inventor is ever going to be revealed in some archaeological dig, millions of people from all around the world can feel a sense of gratitude to this unknown figure for creating one of their favorite games.

The Romans soon caught on to the potential of the backgammon for gambling and enthusiasm for the game reached the throne of Caesar himself. Certainly, we can say it contributed to Roman civilization far more than the more bloodthirsty pastimes the Romans beloved. Wherever the Roman Empire reached, its soldiers and merchants brought the game of backgammon. The game became very popular in Europe and from here it was taken to the Americas. By the eighteenth century the backgammon instructions were brought to the printing house by an English player and game continued to go from strength to strength. The development of mass manufacturing and the retail trade made cheap, mass-produced backgammon sets readily available and through presents to children, many more new players were introduced to the game.

The last fifteen years or so have witnessed a dramatic explosion in interest in backgammon. For the most part this has been the consequence of the successful development of backgammon software. Many Internet sites offer a backgammon download that brings a brilliant 3-D virtual version of backgammon to the computer screen. By providing clear instructions on how to play backgammon, and offering free backgammon online, the gaming site developers have attracted a whole new audience. The people playing backgammon online range from the experienced players who are well versed in backgammon strategy and convinced they can win significant cash with their playing and gambling skills, to the novice players who enjoy the chance to build up their skills by playing against a sophisticated backgammon computer. When grouped together they represent a major advancement of an ancient game into an ultra-modern setting

Renowned backgammon enthusiast Gene Marshall works for a number of distinguished internet backgammon publications. He focuses on commentaries about the backgammon board setup and backgammon strategy. More articles published by Gene Marshall related to backgammon are available on the net.

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/the-backgammon-board-game-has-stood-the-test-of-time-154592.html

Article Tags: Backgammon Gambling, Backgammon Game, Backgammon Instructions, Free Backgammon, Backgammon Strategy, Backgammon Software, How To Play Backgammon

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

Backgammon Doubling Cube

Play

Backgammon Game: The End

Play

Backgammon Board: Pieces And Parts

Play

Backgammon Opening Position

Play

How to Play Backgammon: Rules

Latest Sports and Fitness Articles
More from Gene Marshall

Get Strong Rage 2-Blade Xtra Blades 2 Tips and 6 Main Blades

By: Jenn Jamie | 26/11/2009
Rage Broadheads versus Conventional Broadheads You have in all probability found out of Rage Broadheads if you are watching the industry, and you have plausibly found out how they are a deathly initiation to the broadhead. This is indeed real. After using them a lot of hunters swear by them, as...

If You Are Looking For an Archery Equipment Discount Warehouse You Have Found It!

By: Jenn Jamie | 26/11/2009
Know How Of Purchasing Bow In Archery Equipment Archery equipments persist in an incremental pace in the development along with the play of archery in modernistic times. Nowadays number of make and pattern of several archery equipments and accessories gets it difficult a obscure to select, specially when you are a...

Skate Shoes - Considerably Worth the Money

By: Gilles Sabas | 26/11/2009
Everyone s shoes go through so much every single day, but much more for the shoes of a skateboarder. In picking out and choosing the correct skate shoes for you is more a matter of your personal vogue than your truthful feel. It can be quite easy if you know...

Fossil Hunting in Dorset

By: David Lakins | 26/11/2009
The Jurassic coastline of Dorset is a fossil hunting haven for both novice and experienced fossil collectors. The 150km (95 mile) stretch of coastline covering Dorset and East Devon spans 185 million years of geological history and has been granted World Heritage Status. Pliosaur Remains found in Dorset November and April...

Choosing an Airsoft Shotgun

By: Brad Terschluse | 25/11/2009
Airsoft guns are becoming extremely popular. Not only are they fun and easy to shoot but there are many different styles to choose from. If you are an avid airsoft player and are looking for a change from your normal semi automatic guns, you may want to look into an...

Watch The Princess and the Frog Online

By: streamufc ufclive | 25/11/2009
Watch The Princess and the Frog Online Free Online movies are the latest trend providing wholesome entertainment. Days are gone when people used to go to the cinema halls to watch the most anticipated films starring their favorite celebrity stars. All the action packed films can now be viewed sitting at home through the internet by the time of their release. In particular, many people are looking to watch The Princes...

Kids Parties Innovated

By: Cherry Bo | 25/11/2009
Planning for parties are indeed very time-consuming so here is Rowans Ten-pin Bowl that can give you the comfort right in your hands to have the party that you want without so many burdens to consider.

Rowans’ Formula as Bait

By: Cherry Bo | 25/11/2009
The bar that Rowans Ten-pin Bowl has is not just the typical bar that a lot of places have. The Rowans is considered as London’s coolest, biggest and finest bar that can offer us with pool venue and as well as drinks that would surely quench and release all our stress brought about by the busy weekdays.

To Play Backgammon and Win you Must Have a Solid Grasp of Backgammon Strategy

By: Gene Marshall | 07/09/2007 | Sports & Fitness
Although backgammon may seem to be a game of chance since the moves of the pieces are made according to the outcome of the throw of the dice, experienced players know that to play backgammon competently you need a good understanding of strategy. With the large number of backgammon clubs in existence, the extensive literature explaining how to play backgammon to a high level, and all the learning opportunities available via the backgammon online sites, it is surprisingly easy to access informatio

The Backgammon Game Crosses All International Boundaries

By: Gene Marshall | 07/09/2007 | Sports & Fitness
The backgammon game has enjoyed an international following for thousands of years. Children all over the world learn how to play backgammon at an early age, and games of backgammon can be found in schools, clubs and cafes across the globe. We may well wonder how a game that originated an estimated five thousand years ago has become such a world conqueror? Certainly the straightforward nature of the game’s objective – to be the first player in a position to remove (bear off) all their checkers fr

Online Backgammon Ranks Among the Most Popular Internet Games

By: Gene Marshall | 07/09/2007 | Sports & Fitness
The chances of an ancient board game becoming one of the all time favorite hi-tech Internet games should in theory have been very remote, yet online backgammon has managed to become one of the most popular of Internet games. How could this have happened? To understand the success of internet backgammon we need to appreciate the nature of the game and the interests of today’s game players who have become such devoted backgammon online patrons. The backgammon game is a game of skill and strategy

Learning How to Play Backgammon Successfully

By: Gene Marshall | 07/09/2007 | Sports & Fitness
Learning how to play backgammon successfully is probably easier to do today than in any other period of the backgammon game’s five thousand year history. We can imagine in the Ancient world the game was taught from father to son, or people learned the game by watching others play. There were no books of backgammon rules, not least because printing had not yet been invented, but also very few people could read. Closer to our own times, the game has been, and still is learned by many schoolchildre

Learn the Backgammon Rules Well to Get the Most Out of your Game

By: Gene Marshall | 07/09/2007 | Sports & Fitness
Just as the best drivers are those who know the rules of the road, superior backgammon players are those who take the time to properly learn the backgammon rules. Fortunately, the regulations of the game are not at all complex and there are plenty of opportunities available to learn how to play backgammon. So the first question that needs to be answered is where to turn to find out how to play backgammon – all that a players needs to know about the setup of the backgammon game, the rules control

Free Backgammon Allows you to Play Often and Helps Build a Strategy

By: Gene Marshall | 07/09/2007 | Sports & Fitness
Free backgammon is a term most internet savvy players will be familiar with, due to the amazing growth of online backgammon gaming sites. But for anyone not familiar with the world of backgammon online a little explanation is in order. What is generally meant by “free backgammon” is not a distribution of actual backgammon games free of charge, nor is it a reference to free membership at the local backgammon club. What we’re referring to is the backgammon software downloads that are available at

Backgammon – One of the Most Ancient Games Steps Into the Future

By: Gene Marshall | 07/09/2007 | Sports & Fitness
Ask most people about leisure activity in the Ancient World and they will probably mention the sport of hunting, Greek athletics, or the cruel contests staged between Roman gladiators and wild animals. It will therefore come as a surprise to many that one of today’s most popular games – backgammon – actually has a history going back some five thousand years. Nobody knows for such who was the first person to invent the backgammon game but scholars believe it was devised or developed in the area t

Backgammon Gambling Goes Back to the Very Origins of the Board Game

By: Gene Marshall | 07/09/2007 | Sports & Fitness
When we think of the subject of backgammon gambling the first thing that comes to mind today is usually the exciting tournaments hosted by a range of Internet backgammon sites. However, it seems likely that the association between the backgammon game and gambling probably goes back to the origins of backgammon thousands of years ago. We know from records of the Roman game of tabula (considered one of the main ancestors of the backgammon we know today), that this game was only played for money ra