Card Games

With card games the overall consensus is that the origins are to be found in Central Asia. The 10th Century finds the Chinese shuffling paper dominoes and dealing them into new games.

Later on we see the development of the four-suited decks which evolved in the Muslim world before they were brought to Europe in the 14th Century.
Being followers of Islam, these cards were not decorated with human forms; but instead, featured intricate designs, very similar to those found in Muslim carpets.

The cards that we are more familiar with today were as a result of Italian and Spanish traders who brought them back from their travels. Initially the cards were depicted with the royal ranks of men who held power in the Royal Courts of the time.
Later on in the 16th Century when the French discovered them we see the introduction of the Queen as a card.

This pack of cards became known as the “French Pack”, and served as the prototype of the 52 card deck we are so familiar with today.