The actual name for backgammon comes from a Welsh term meaning "wee battle." However, the history of backgammon reflects many various names and versions. The aristocracy and slave population of Egypt and Greece played an identical game called, "senat." The Romans changed the amount of dice from two to 3 and called it "bac gamen" or "back game." From the Roman civilization, backgammon moved to Persia, where it had been again played with two dice during a game called "Takhteh Nard" or "Battle on Wood." During the time of the Crusades, the Anglo Saxon soldiers and traders played yet one more version called "Tables" or "Tabula."
Throughout the history of backgammon, the Church attempted several times to ban the sport, but always failed. Cardinal Woolsey, within the 16th century, ordered all the boards burned, calling the sport "the devil's folly." Burning the boards was useless, however, since any sort of board might be drawn in dirt or sand and played with small pebbles. Dice were often handmade and were sufficiently small to be easily concealed on an individual or hidden in someone's home. Furthermore, English were very clever and decided to disguise the board as a folding book. Their innovative craftsmanship remains evident within the board we use today.
Edmund Hoyle, the famous writer and gamesman, documented the principles and therefore the history of backgammon within the mid 1700's. Colonists from England brought backgammon to their homes in America, along side chess and other board games of the days. Although the sport of backgammon lost some popularity within the Victorian era, it quickly reappeared and gained strength within the 20th century. At this point, an unknown inventor devised the doubling cube, which offers players the chance to multiply their initial wager by the quantity on the doubling cube. Of course, some strategy and knowledge is required before using the doubling cube.
Tournaments, books, magazines, and clubs are now a neighborhood of the history of backgammon. The introduction of the sport on the web has increased its popularity to a good greater extent. Backgammon may be a fast-paced, challenging, and entertaining game of skill and luck.