The Origins of Chess: India and the Birth of Chaturanga

The Origins of Chess: India and the Birth of Chaturanga

The origins of chess trace back to India around the 6th century AD, where an ancient game called chaturanga emerged. Chaturanga, meaning "four divisions of the military" in Sanskrit, represented four army divisions: elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry. These divisions evolved into the modern chess pieces: bishops, rooks, knights, and pawns.

When chaturanga spread to Persia, it evolved into the game of shatranj. From there, shatranj traveled to the Islamic world and then to Europe, where it continued to change, leading to the rules and pieces we know today.

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