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Reader question – Pedro Henrique Gomes de Queiroz, São Paulo, SP
Because, in the Middle Ages, it was an almost exclusively female pastime. While the complexity of chess was only recommended for men of the aristocracy, the “weaker sex” should be limited to this “simpler” alternative. The origin of the game dates back to ancient Egypt, around 2000 BC – but it was considered an instrument of mystical divination, not a form of leisure. From there it was taken to Greece. The Arabs also helped to spread it, already with the name of alquerque, when they invaded Spain in the beginning of the 8th century. The exchanges between Europeans, Greeks and Egyptians finally popularized it throughout Europe and, as it was practically restricted to women, it ended renamed. In Brazil, it was made official as a sport for both genders from 1930 onwards.
Sources: Book O Guia dos Curiosos, by Marcelo Duarte, and sites Jogos Antigas and Regional Chess
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