History of Playing Cards
Playing cards have been around for centuries and still remain popular today. Some of the first uses of playing cards were believed to be for magical purposes, games simulating combat, and as an alternative to game pieces for chess.
One thing that has not all have come to agreement over is that the invention was a result of a group of people looking for a leisure activity to bring them closer together.
Cultural Origins of Cards
Today, playing cards can be seen everywhere with countless games and uses. The invention and origins of the cards have been highly debated.
Cards date back to China as early as the 9th century where cards were mainly used for monetary purposes. The "money cards" later inspired various uses of for games and gambling. It is largely believed that these cards later inspired the birth of the classic Chinese Maj Jong tiles.
Playing cards were found in Europe as early as the 13th century in various card games. Some suggest that the origins are from India due to the resemblance to many Indian figures and characters found on European cards.
During the 13th century in Europe, playing cards were mainly reserved for aristocracy due to the high price of the decks. The earliest cards were mostly handpainted on paper; however, after the invention of wood block printing, playing cards became so wide spread that France banned the use on working days.