Toys: History and Party Trivia

By: Gail Leino
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:23:22
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How does one really identify the beginning of toy history? Today, children can pick up a rock and a stick from the yard and turn it into a game of baseball. Instantly those two items become “toys” so can we believe that children throughout time have also always had “toys” much like these? It’s a question that archeologists and anthropologists look for evidence of with each ancient dig they complete. We may not have a definitive answer at this point, but we do know a few dates as far as toy history is concerned.

For example, the first official game of chess, or at least a game very close to it, called Chaturanga was played as early as 6000 B.C. The game evolved a bit in or around 4000 B.C. when the Babylonians revised it as their own board game. Incidentally, it isn’t until the 15th Century that the modern chess pieces become standardized and the queen and bishop pieces become as powerful as they are today.

In 3000 B.C. a version of marbles and backgammon are found to have been played in Egypt. The marbles of this time period are stones. The glass marbles won’t be popular until the mid-1800s in the United States.

Dolls made of string, fabric and paper are dated back to 2000 B.C. where they are found in Egypt. At this same period of history there is a record of iron skates being used in Scandinavia.

Depending on which set of folk lore and history you read, the kite becomes popular in or around 1000 B.C. There are reasons to believe that they may have been flown before but this is the first actual recorded record. In addition, stone yo-yos are recorded as being played with in Greece.

As you can see, toys have a very long and extensive history from which they have evolved and adapted to suit the needs of the population playing with them. It is kind of mind boggling to think that the same games and toys I have grown up enjoying were actually created almost 4,000 years ago.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

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