India to Persia
Historians trace chess to chaturanga, played in India around the 6th century. It reached Sasanian Persia, where it was called chatrang. A Middle Persian text, the Chatrang-namag, tells how the game arrived at the court of Khosrow I, together with a challenge to work out its rules.
Shatranj
After the Arab conquest of Persia, the game spread across the Islamic world as shatranj. Players and writers in Baghdad and beyond studied it seriously and recorded problems and strategies.
Words from Persian
- Shah — "king". Calling "shah" warned that the king was attacked; it became check.
- Shah mat — usually explained as "the king is helpless" — became checkmate.
- Rukh — the Persian name of the piece that became the rook.
Into Europe
Through Spain and Italy the game reached Europe around the 10th century. Around the 15th century the queen and bishop gained their long moves, creating the faster modern game.
Play it in 3D on ZIBADISPLAY Chess.
ZIBADISPLAY — the entertainment reference of the ZIBADIS network, founded by Masoud Moghaddam.
