I don't know about you, but playing cards are one of my favorite things ever invented. Playing cards were invented in Imperial China. To give you a sense of time, Imperial China (the Qin Dynasty) lasted until 206 BC, over 2,000 years ago! In the fourteenth century, playing cards entered Europe, with very different suits than what we are used to. The four suits of the Mameluke pack of cards were polo sticks, coins, swords, and cups. In the late fourteenth century, the use of playing cards spread rapidly and began being mentioned in documents. Designs of playing cards changed, and so did the rules. The ace, which is usually the highest value, used to always be lowest (after all, it is just one). The joker was introduced to the deck in the U.S. for the game of Euchre, but it eventually spread to other games. Today, the "standard" pack of playing cards uses the French suits (spades, clubs, diamonds, hearts), two jokers, and four of the following: aces, kings, queens, jacks, and ranks 2-10. That is the summarized history of playing cards. What's your favorite card game? Mine is hearts. Tell me in comments!
Conspiracy riskThat's my internet name, and this is my blog on cool facts. Archives
May 2015
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