Game Art and Design Unit 1 Lesson 3 History of Cards This presentation is an introduction to cards and can be covered very quickly. Students should have a deck of cards between every two players. The cards should be spread out and face up to be seen during the presentation. International Technology Education Association

Big Idea Knowledge of the history of technology and societies helps people understand the world around them by seeing how people of all times and places have increased their capability by using their unique skills to innovate, improvise, and invent. International Technology Education Association

History of Cards International Technology Education Association

First Playing Cards The earliest playing cards originated in Central Asia. 10th century, Chinese used paper-like dominoes, shuffling and dealing them in new games.

Introduction Into Europe Islamic cards were introduced into southern Europe about 1350. The suit signs Coins, Cups, Swords, and Sticks were variously adapted. "Moorish" card, 14th century (?) (Instituto Municipal de Historia, Barcelona)  

First European Playing Cards European cards date from 1370 and come from Spain, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. The earliest surviving cards come from around the 15th century—cards were hand-painted and only afforded by the wealthy. Invention of woodcuts allowed mass-producing of cards.

First European Playing Cards By 1500, three main suit systems had evolved: Latin Germanic French These three systems became the basis of standard national patterns. The Ambras Court Hunting Pack (1445)

Evolution of German Cards Most imaginative. Cards were decorated with lively scenes German national pattern has four suits (Leaves, Hearts, Acorns and Hawk Bells) from which the Queen was banished. German deck, Nüremberg, 1813

Divinatory Tarot cards by Evolution of Tarocco The Italians added a wild card (the Fool). The suit expanded to 97 cards. Called Tarot by the French. Did not acquire its modern use by fortune tellers until the 1780s. Divinatory Tarot cards by Etteilla, Paris, 1789

French Playing Cards French were instrumental in bringing the pleasures of card play to people in Europe and the New World. French cards soon flooded the market and were exported to England first, and then in the British Colonies of America.

Evolution of Cards - French French invented the familiar suits (1470). Popular demand led to mass production using woodcuts. Designs for sheets of cards were drawn and carved on woodblocks, then inked and printed on paper, finally separated, and glued on cardboard.

History of Modern Suits From the French were spades, clubs, diamonds, and hearts. The use of simple shapes and flat colors helped facilitate manufacture. The king of hearts represented Charlemagne, king of Diamonds was Julius Caesar, king of clubs was Alexander the Great, and king of spades was King David from the Bible Have students look at the cards listed above.

Suits and Patterns – Swiss French

Suits and Patterns - Italian

Suits and Patterns – Spanish

American Playing Cards Americans started producing playing cards around 1800 with several improvements: Double-headed - no upside down cards Varnished surfaces for durability Identifying marks on borders or corners Rounded corners for extended life Have students look at the attributes listed above on the cards they have. Double-headed cards by Russell & Morgan, Cincinnati, 1885

The Joker The Joker came from the game Euchre. Americans equipped card games with an extra card (usually as a wild card). Later it became known as the Joker, meaning one that pops up unexpectedly. The use of a jester is logical because he complements the court cards. The Joker is one of America's most picturesque contributions to cards. Show students a joker card.

Joker by Andrew Dougherty, The Joker Joker by Andrew Dougherty, New York, 1875

Other Uses of Cards Besides playing games, cards were also used to: Advertise products and services Promote ideas Depict famous landmarks Depict famous events Depict famous people

Depict famous people US-Elections 1963. John F. Kennedy and other members of the Kennedy Family.

Advertise products Original pattern slightly modified, king holds beer glass in hand. Pattern newly designed, but the Bavarian Pattern is still discernable.

Non-Standard Suit Cards In this game the court cards were redesigned and the suit symbols were changed. Theme is the "Honey Barrel," a fairy tale by Lew Ustinow; advertisement for the theatre Altenburg-Gera.

Non-Standard Suit Cards This card game represents the four elements. They do not appear as the four suits; (king = earth, queen = water, jack = air and Joker = fire).

Other Card Games There are many other types of card games besides the typical four-suit playing cards. Examples include Uno, Apples to Apples, Crazy Eights, Old Maid, and many others.

Card Games Objectives Accumulating The object is to acquire all cards in the deck. Examples include most war-type games and games involving slapping a discard pile such as Slapjack. Students should play some examples of this objective to help prepare them for designing their original game. Examples: War Slapjack Deck is divided into 2 equal piles and placed face down in front of the player (Like War). First player removes the top card of his stack and places it face-up on the playing surface within reach of all players. The players take turns doing this in a clockwise manner until a Jack is placed on the pile. At this point, any and all players may attempt to slap the pile with the hand they used to place the card; whoever covers the stack with his hand first takes the pile, shuffles it, and adds it to the bottom of his stack. If a card covers the jack it does not count. When a player has run out of cards, he has one more chance to slap a jack and get back in the game, but if he fails, he is out. Gameplay continues with hands of this sort until one player has acquired all of the cards.

Card Games Objectives Adding In adding games, players play in turns, adding the value of the cards together as they are played. The goal is to reach or avoid certain point totals. Examples include 21, Ninety-eight / Ninety-nine / One Hundred, and Cribbage. Students should play some examples of this objective to help prepare them for designing their original game. Examples: Game like 21 but change to 31 or other number (Black Jack) Vary rules to having red cards take away points

Card Games Objectives Fishing Each player is given a hand with a stack of face up cards on the table. Players play one card in turn trying to match the layout card. If matched, layout card is captured and placed in front of the player. If a card does not match, it becomes part of the layout. Examples include Go-Stop, and Diplomat. Students should play some examples of this objective to help prepare them for designing their original game. Examples: Play game described above

Card Games Objectives Matching Players take turns playing cards to match the previous card or fit in some way (rank, suit). If no match is made, the player must draw a card or cards. The object is to get rid of all of your cards. Examples include Go Fish, Rummy, Crazy Eights, and Old Maid. Students should play some examples of this objective to help prepare them for designing their original game. Examples: Go Fish, Rummy, and Crazy eights. Pick one and just start the game. Don’t play the entire game. Just give the students an idea of this objective.

Big Idea Knowledge of the history of technology and societies helps people understand the world around them by seeing how people of all times and places have increased their capability by using their unique skills to innovate, improvise, and invent. International Technology Education Association

Game Art and Design Unit 1 Lesson 5 History of Cards images With permission from http://www.wopc.co.uk/ International Technology Education Association