Now Here's a Brain Stumper....

[BuddMan]

I have a question that I cannot get an answer to....who the hell invented playing cards or where did they originate from? It had to come from someone/somewhere? Was playing poker last night and the question was brought up. We searched for 2 hours and couldn't find anything. Maybe the great gurus of MURC would have an answer to this puzzle?

[Helevitia]

http://www.ahs.uwaterloo.ca/~museum/vexhibit/plcards/plcards.html

"The origins of playing cards are somewhat obscure. There are many unproven, controversial, and sometimes non-sensical theories concerning where and when people started to play games with cards. For example, some scholars indicate that playing cards were invented about 1000ad in China or Korea, and they may have evolved from a set of Chinese dominoes similar to the 19th century set (in the Museum's collection) pictured here.


Other scholars indicate that dominoes as well as playing cards evolved from "flattened", marked, arrows much earlier than 1000ad. At times, one theory appears to be the "best one", and at times another seems more acceptable. On the other hand, some theorists indicate that around the 12th century AD, circular suited playing cards from India (which may or may not have come from China) found their way to Egypt and were modified somewhat in Egypt. By the 14th century AD the Egyptian deck found its way to Italy and Spain and soon after spread thoughout Europe. (For a Website which discusses the introduction of playing cards to Europe - Click Here. Use your browser's "back button" to return to this page about playing cards.)

Within each country a number of modifications were made to the deck of playing cards. It has been reported that the Tarot deck for example, was invented in Italy about 1440ad, but was based upon exisiting decks. Some authors are unhappy with these facts, and would have it that the other decks are based upon the Tarot deck!

Today playing cards are known all over the world, as evidenced by the examples from many cultures in the Museum's Collection. If you wish to see more specific information about game origins in general, game ethnography, and early geographic diffusion of games, Click Here. Use your browser's "back button" to return to this page about playing cards."

[BuddMan]

So in other words they don't know...

[ayoub_ibrahim]

Originally posted by BuddMan
So in other words they don't know...

probably

[ZokesPro]

I thought they were used ih medievil times as a form of money?

[Agent31]

Originally posted by ZokesPro
I thought they were used ih medievil times as a form of money?

Interesting... imagine, if that were the case, and cards were a form of money, that would bring a whole new dimension to a game of poker... "I'll bet I don't lose this money to you!"