"To even contemplate that it is worth seriously discussing whether or not chess is racist is patently ridiculous. As a brief history, by anyone’s best estimation, chess was invented in northwest India sometime in the 6th century and was known as 'chaturanga' in Sanskrit.
From there, it moved along the Silk Road, evolving as it did and picking up influences on its way, eventually becoming very popular in Persia. Indeed, it is from the old Persian phrase 'shah mat' (meaning the king is helpless) that we get the phrase 'checkmate'.
Following the Islamic conquest of Persia in 633 AD, its popularity propagated throughout the Muslim world, coming to Europe via Spain when large parts of that country were occupied by the Moors in 1,000 AD. Then, over a period of another 800 years, it spread throughout Europe, more of Asia and Africa, thence to the New World, becoming one of the most popular games on the planet as well as one of the most challenging."
The standardization of colors for the pieces and board and rules came in the 19th century (allowing it to become globally competitive), and the colors were meant to symbolize combat uniforms, not skin colors. So only WILFULL ignoramuses want to have a discussion about something which can easily be researched nowadays...or Leftist, Marxist race baiters. But I repeat myself.
P.S. Persians were "white" by the standards of antiquity, since lightness and darkness are relative terms. When ancient Chinese texts refer to "black" Asians, they do not mean persons of African descent, but dark people's from India, which is also Asia.
Yep. From the article:
"To even contemplate that it is worth seriously discussing whether or not chess is racist is patently ridiculous. As a brief history, by anyone’s best estimation, chess was invented in northwest India sometime in the 6th century and was known as 'chaturanga' in Sanskrit.
From there, it moved along the Silk Road, evolving as it did and picking up influences on its way, eventually becoming very popular in Persia. Indeed, it is from the old Persian phrase 'shah mat' (meaning the king is helpless) that we get the phrase 'checkmate'.
Following the Islamic conquest of Persia in 633 AD, its popularity propagated throughout the Muslim world, coming to Europe via Spain when large parts of that country were occupied by the Moors in 1,000 AD. Then, over a period of another 800 years, it spread throughout Europe, more of Asia and Africa, thence to the New World, becoming one of the most popular games on the planet as well as one of the most challenging."
The standardization of colors for the pieces and board and rules came in the 19th century (allowing it to become globally competitive), and the colors were meant to symbolize combat uniforms, not skin colors. So only WILFULL ignoramuses want to have a discussion about something which can easily be researched nowadays...or Leftist, Marxist race baiters. But I repeat myself.
P.S. Persians were "white" by the standards of antiquity, since lightness and darkness are relative terms. When ancient Chinese texts refer to "black" Asians, they do not mean persons of African descent, but dark people's from India, which is also Asia.
Check out the artistic representations and genetic studies regarding their "whiteness": https://www.quora.com/Were-the-Ancient-Persians-black/answer/Steve-Theodore?ch=10&share=77d1aa36&srid=JGAPo
Willful ignoramuses indeed.