The objects shown here are chess pieces. In the Islamic world, chess was quite popular. Even though many Muslim authorities to this day denounce the game, there have been Muslim leaders due to it being seen as a vice. However, there have been many famous Muslim chess players such as Caliph Harun al-Rashid, who was believed to have gifted Emperor Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire a chess set. The Bishop and Rook pieces here are made out of ivory.
How to use the source
- You can use this source to teach about life in Islamic society and what and why certain things were banned due to Islamic faith.
- 9.2a
- You can use this source to have students understand and analyze the cultural aspects from the chess pieces
- Covers 9.4c
- The source can be used to understand the evolution of cultural changes of chess.
- Covers 9.3a and 10.1a
Bibliography
- “Chess Piece, Bishop.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accessed July 20, 2024. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/451770.
- “Chess Piece, Rook.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accessed July 20, 2024. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/451771.
- Tharoor, Ishaan. “The Age-Old War between Muslim Clerics and Chess-Players – The Washington Post.” Washington Post, January 22, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/01/22/the-age-old-war-between-muslim-clerics-and-chess-players/.
- “Piece of the Charlemagne Chess Set: The Pawn.” The Library of Congress. Accessed August 6, 2024. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670732/.
Education supplements
- Video on the history of chess in Islam