In these days of computer games many people still turn to their favourite board game as a means of entertainment. But board games are not something new or even of recent history. There is evidence that some form of board game may have been played as early as 3,500 BC. Discoveries in Egyptian burials of this time included a board game called Senet, a game played on a 10 by 3 set of squares with the object of racing from one end to the other. By 3,000 BC it appears that the Egyptians had adopted a game called Mehen, a board game where a segmented coiled snake depicted the playing area and lion shaped tokens were used. There are no surviving rules so understanding how the game was played is not possible.
Backgammon also is of ancient origins dating back to the 3rd century BC in Iran, whereas chess has its roots in the 6th century AD Indian game of caturanga. Also found in 6th century India was the game of Pachisi, which we know today as ludo. Ludo appeared in the UK in 1896 under that name when it was patented. The popular game of Monopoly is relatively new in these terms coming from 1930.
Snakes and Ladders, a popular children’s game in the UK and US is of Indian origin (where its name translates as the ‘ladder to salvation’), which was taken to the US in 1943 by games marketer Milton Bradley.
Nine Men’s Morris became popular in medieval England, so much so that boards were carved into the seats of many notable cathedrals, including Canterbury, Salisbury and Westminster Abbey. There is some debate over the origin of this game, Egyptian or Roman, but certainly not medieval England.
Draughts (or checkers in the US) was known in Europe in the 16th century but probably has its roots in ancient Egypt. There are many forms of the game, which have variations in number of squares on the board and some of the intricacies of playing the game such as backward capturing.
To add a finishing touch to your dolls house, why not display a board game in play on a table (or floor for children)?