- Why Were Playing Cards Invented
- Why Were Playing Cards Invented The Most
- Why Were Playing Cards Invented Christmas
- Who Invented Cards
The origin of playing cards stretches so far back into the shadows of history that it is impossible to point to a specific time or place as their first point of origin. It is more likely that playing cards emerged at different times and in different cultures across the ages. For Europe, this time came around the latter half of the 14th century with one of the earliest historical references coming in 1379 (Giovanni de Covelluzzo, City of Viterbo). By that time, however, playing-cards were as well known in Switzerland and Germany as they were along the Mediterranean coast. https://staginolev1978.netlify.com/golden-goddess-slot-tips.html.
The debate about whether Tarot or playing cards were invented first is not unlike the question, ‘Which came first, the chicken or the egg?' The one thread that runs common to all theories and debates is that the decks of cards were always works of art from ancient times in far off lands to today all around the world. History of Bridge - The origin of playing cards was in China, where paper was invented, dates back to around the year 1120. Originally, cards were used for fortune telling and gambling. Cards were introduced into Italy and Spain around 1370, probably coming from Egypt.
The riddle puzzling historians is how did they get there in the first place. The exact origin of playing cards and their introduction to European culture has been an elusive thread to trace.
There are basically four theories which are discussed in the literature:
- The idea that playing cards were invented in China, and gradually found their way west until they arrived in Europe.
- The idea that bands of roving Gypsies introduced them to Europe as they journeyed from village to village side-show and entertaining.
- The idea that Crusaders returning from the Holy Land brought them back to Europe with them.
- The idea that playing cards crossed the Mediterranean from Egypt.
China and the Far East
The idea that playing cards somehow made their way from China to arrive in Europe around the 1370s is an idea born more out of the tendency to ascribe all things unknown to the 'East', than it does out of evidence or plausibility. Video poker online for fun.
It is true that China provides us with the earliest tangible artefacts, in the form of paper money cards dated from the 12th century. It has long been recognized that China was highly advanced in paper manufacture, they had invented woodblock printing, and they lived in a sophisticated society – all the semblances necessary for the production and widespread diffusion of playing cards.
Yet, it is difficult to piece together any connections with 14th century Europe, or to suggest a route by which they may have come to the Continent. It was certainly not by the Turkish Empire, because that road had long since been blocked off.
More importantly, however, is that these early Chinese 'money cards' bear no resemblance to the earliest European designs at all. Chinese playing cards were long and narrow, and were covered in Chinese characters. It's difficult to see a relationship or how these may have transformed into the cards we have today.
It is more likely that these playing cards arose in China, or perhaps Korea, as similar artefacts have been found there.
The other 'Eastern Empire' from which playing cards are thought to have originated is India. It is true that India traded with a number of European countries around and along the Mediterranean. However, playing-cards were not known in India until the 16th century, or so the evidence would suggest. Which makes it highly improbable that India was the birth place of playing cards. Playing-cards had appeared in Europe a full 150 years before then. Some have even speculated that the journey was the reverse, and that playing-cards were introduced to India from Europe. But this is a difficult proposition to sell as the playing-cards of India are so different to those of Europe both in style and in shape. There is simply no apparent relationship.
The Gypsies
The idea that roving Gypsies travelling from village to village to delight, deceive, and entertain the village town folk is a romantic notion, and one that seems a plausible explanation for the introduction of playing-cards to Europe. The problem with this theory is that Gypsies are not known to have arrived in Europe in any significant numbers until the early 15th century. By then, playing cards were well and truly vested in European culture.
There is some speculation that Gypsies journeyed through the Turkish Empire, so there does remain the possibility, however remote, that they may have acquired playing cards there, if they existed. Fun online casino. But how they got them to Europe, remains another question, since by the time Gypsies arrived, everyone in Europe was already playing cards.
The Crusaders
So nearing now the coast of the Mediterranean itself, it has been suggested that playing cards were brought back from the Holy Land by returning Crusaders. There is nothing to suggest their existence in Palestine in the first place. But significantly, the last crusade ended in 1291. Playing cards were not known in Europe until almost 100 years later.
The Mamelukes
This then leaves us with the Islamic countries bordering the Mediterranean as the only other place from which playing cards could have originated. According to this theory European playing cards originated in Egypt.
The jewel in the crown of this theory is a deck of cards discovered in the Topkapi Sarayi Museum, Instanbul, in 1939. The Mameluke Deck, discovered by Professor L. A. Mayer, dates from the 15th century. However, subsequent finds have yielded even older examples from the 12th century.
The Mamelukes were a caste of hard nail warriors who ruled in various parts of Egypt from 1254 until 1517.
The Mameluke Deck closely resembles the earliest European designs in many important respects. Firstly, it is a deck of 52 cards divided into 4 suits of 13 ranks. Each suit has numbers 1 to 10, represented by suit symbols or 'pips' on the card. And each suit has 3 Court Cards 'Malik', 'Na'ib Malik', and 'Thani Na'ib', meaning 'King', 'Viceroy', and 'Under Viceroy'.
The resemblance to early Italian packs is immediately apparent. Even in the shape and arrangement of suit symbols on the cards, and also in the way the court cards are represented – not as faces, but as abstract geometric patterns.
It was the refinement and modification of the early Italian design, that we understand as the foundation of the modern European playing card.
The Mameluke Deck is a stunning artefact because it is so much like the standard modern playing card we have today. In fact, you could play any one of our modern games with them today.
The cards from China of the same period are not like these at all, and are not arranged in the same manner. Similarly, we can say the same of Indian cards, and of the games we play with them. The history of European card playing is distinct and unique, like that of other cultures.
In our search to trace the origin of playing cards back into antiquity, some rich and interesting facts have been unearthed. We have seen that playing cards and games of chance and skill have been practiced in many cultures and in many different time periods. However, the exact route by which playing cards arrived in Europe may never be fully understood or known. There is plenty of information about playing card games online. In addition to Titlemax Reviews, some websites offer reviews of the best sites to play cards online.
French Regional Patterns of the 18th Century |
By the beginning of the Eighteenth century, war, and no doubt extravagance, had drained France's national treasury to little more than copper coins in a tin pot. In 1701 a new duty was imposed on playing cards of 18 deniers a deck. In order to collect the new tax, the country was divided into nine manufacturing regions. Each manufacturer was required to submit a design block to the ‘Recettes generales'. It was in this manner that each region was allotted its own design. Read More » |
Early Standard Playing Cards |
Very little is known about the history of card making in England. However, through a pictorial history of French, English and American patterns it is clear to see the origins of the English Pattern and its patrimony in the French Rouen design. |
Card Masters of the 19th Century
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Why Were Playing Cards Invented
L I N K S
♠ Where did Playing Cards come from?
♠ A Concise History of Playing-Cards
♠ The History of Playing Cards: The Evolution of the Modern Deck
Praise be to Allah.
The Standing Committee was asked about playing cardsif that does not distract people from prayer and there is no money involved.They answered:
Playing cards is not permitted, even if there is no moneyinvolved, because the problem with that is that it distracts peoplefrom remembering Allaah (dhikr) and from prayer. Even if they claimthat this is not the case, then it is still a means that may lead togambling which is expressly forbidden in the Qur'aan. Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
'Intoxicants(all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansaab (stonealtars for sacrifices to false gods) and Al-Azlaam (arrows forseeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytaan's (Satan's)handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order thatyou may be successful'
[al-Maa'idah 5:90]
These cards have an effect on society, for the bondsof a strong society are achieved by means of two things: following thecommands of Allaah and heeding His prohibitions. A society disintegrateswhen it neglects any of those duties or does any of those things thatare forbidden. These cards form one of the factors which have an effecton society. They cause people to neglect prayer in congregation, andthey generate alienation, breaking of ties, hatred and negligence throughthe committing of haraam actions, and they make people too lazy to earna living.
Card Masters of the 19th Century
|
Why Were Playing Cards Invented
L I N K S
♠ Where did Playing Cards come from?
♠ A Concise History of Playing-Cards
♠ The History of Playing Cards: The Evolution of the Modern Deck
Praise be to Allah.
The Standing Committee was asked about playing cardsif that does not distract people from prayer and there is no money involved.They answered:
Playing cards is not permitted, even if there is no moneyinvolved, because the problem with that is that it distracts peoplefrom remembering Allaah (dhikr) and from prayer. Even if they claimthat this is not the case, then it is still a means that may lead togambling which is expressly forbidden in the Qur'aan. Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
'Intoxicants(all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansaab (stonealtars for sacrifices to false gods) and Al-Azlaam (arrows forseeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytaan's (Satan's)handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order thatyou may be successful'
[al-Maa'idah 5:90]
These cards have an effect on society, for the bondsof a strong society are achieved by means of two things: following thecommands of Allaah and heeding His prohibitions. A society disintegrateswhen it neglects any of those duties or does any of those things thatare forbidden. These cards form one of the factors which have an effecton society. They cause people to neglect prayer in congregation, andthey generate alienation, breaking of ties, hatred and negligence throughthe committing of haraam actions, and they make people too lazy to earna living.
Why Were Playing Cards Invented The Most
Fataawa Islamiyyah, 4/436
Withregard to the history of these playing cards: No one really knows whoinvented playing cards or when or where they were invented. It has beensaid that they are of Chinese or Indian origin, or otherwise. But historiansare agreed that they came to Europe from the Middle East in the latterpart of the Middle Ages. Experts also say that there is agreement thatplaying cards have clearly evolved from that time until now.
Playing cards made their first appearance in Europe inAndalusia, and were brought to northern Spain in the eleventh centuryCE.
The traditional deck of cards in Spain consisted of 40cards, including the numbers 1 to 7, plus three characters, the highestof which was the 'ruler', followed by the 'deputy', then the 'scribe'or 'knight.'
In the sixteenth century, the French changed the cards,replacing the 'ruler' with the king, the 'deputy' with the queen, andthe 'knight' with the jack. They also added three new numbers, so thatthe deck now consisted of 52 cards. In the seventeenth century, theGermans added a fourth character, the joker.
We have quoted above the fatwa on playing with thesecards. It may also be added that playing cards is devoid of any of thegoals of recreational activities as required in Islam; it does not teachany skill that is needed for jihad or any useful knowledge or bringany social benefit or relaxation that will calm the nerves. Rather itis a game that has nothing good in it; it causes arguments and simplykills time. It is based on speculation and chance, and it is like playingwith dice, in that it leads to disputes and fighting, and it is likealcohol and gambling.
Based on the above, it would not be farfetched to suggestthat it is haraam rather than makrooh, by analogy with dice, becauseboth are based on chance and both lead to arguments.
The same view was favoured by Shaykh Ibn Hajar al-Haythami,and it is the view of our contemporary scholars, and of Shaykh Muhammadibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen among the fuqaha' of al-Najd, who transmittedit from his shaykhs. This is based on the fact that it leads to enmityand hatred, and because it is a great waste of time and it distractspeople from remembering Allaah (dhikr) and keeps them from worshippingand obeying Him.
This view is further supported by the fact that one ofthe French kings issued orders banning people from playing cards duringthe day, and stating that everyone who went against this order was tobe arrested and punished. That was because the French people loved playingcards too much, to such an extent that they were neglecting their workin order to play cards. The punishment dictated by this French kingwas not just a brief imprisonment, he also added a severe beating asa deterrent to others.
Why Were Playing Cards Invented Christmas
Yetdespite these decrees and others, he did not succeed in uprooting thehabit of playing cards; the only result was that the people startedto play in secret rather than openly.
Who Invented Cards
From Qadaaya al-Lahw wa'l-Tarfeeh by Maadoon Rasheed, p. 185-187.