Chess

[KENNY]

Where did chess originate?

[Quizmonster]

India, in the 6th century AD, according to 'The Encyclop�dia Britannica'.

[Toglet]

I thought it was Persia!

[sft42]

Sorry quizmonster for once I have to sort of disagree with you as there is no definate answer to this. Various sources claim Persia, India and China to be the origins of the chess game....while all have similar game of strategy the first written accounts of the game stem from Spainsh writings around the period of mediaeval Arab culture. However I personally believe (and QM is right with this) that the stongest claim is held by India which had a very early game ( 3rd Century B.C.) called Chaturanga ( Four Corners) and most scholars now seem to accept that this is what the other countries game derived from.

[Quizmonster]

Dear Sft, It was precisely because I just knew alternative answers - re both place and time - would be offered that I appended the reference to where the answer I was giving came from! I'm more than happy to 'buy' the greater detail in your answer.

[Quizmonster]

Re Frank Woolley, Einstein, it seems he died in Halifax, Nova Scotia, so perhaps that's where the Britannica got the idea he was Canadian. Poor research on their part!

[Toglet]

I was once told that the word "checkmate" is derived from "Shah-mata" - the ancient Persian (Farsee?) phrase meaning "The King is Dead".

[FredPuli]

Checkmate can certainly be traced back to Persian. The OED has it as from old French echec mat, as in Provencal escac mat, from Arab sah matta representing the Persian sah mat which means 'the king is defeated' or ( I like this; just like modern diplomats and the Iraqi spokesman would say ) 'the king is perplexed' ! So it seems to have got to us, already with a Persian connection, via Arabs ( Moorish invaders or just traders) and South /South West France. Doesn't give its ultimate origin though, just its likely route.