The Elephant and the Bishop: How Arabs Used a Persian Game from India to Make Europe Modern

The game of chess not only has a rich history of its own, but that history can also serve as an indicator of broader historical change. Join internationally-acclaimed scholar Torbjörn Wandel, professor of history at Truman State University, as he traces the history of chess from its ancient origins in seventh-century India, across the Silk Road to Persia, and through the Islamic world to Moorish Spain and Medieval Europe, illustrating new patterns of early globalization and a fresh perspective on the advent of modernity. Presented as part of the World Chess Hall of Fame Lecture Series.