Chaturanga facts for kids
Chaturanga is a very old board game. It is known as the earliest form of chess. This game was created in India around 1,500 years ago. It was played during the time of the Gupta Empire.
The game eventually spread to other parts of the world. After the Muslim conquest of Persia, it became known as Shatranj.
What Does Chaturanga Mean?
The name 'Chaturanga' means 'the four divisions'. These divisions were infantry, cavalry, elephantry, and chariotry. They were the four main parts of an Indian army back then. People likely thought of the game as a war-game.
In the original game, there was no queen piece. What we now call the queen was called Mantri. This word means a minister or an advisor.
How the Pieces Moved
From when it started until the late 1400s, some pieces moved differently. The pieces that are now bishops and queens had limited movement. This meant it took longer to get them into action during the game.
Over time, the pieces changed and evolved. The original pieces became what we know today as the pawn, knight, bishop, and rook in modern chess.
Images for kids
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Chaturanga from Rajasthan, India
See also
In Spanish: Chaturanga para niños
