Science in Board Games. Study and Entertainment in Early Modern England

Board games are by no means a new invention. Their roots go back centuries, and they have long become an integral part of world culture. G. Shpak traces the evolution of British board games during the Early Modern period, revealing their close connection with the genesis of European science and intellectual thought. The author analyzes the phenomenon of educational “board games” from 16th-century geographical playing maps to strategic board games of the mid-19th century, examining their role in the dissemination of knowledge. 

What inspired creators to search for new game forms? What experiences did the games provide? In what ways did virtual worlds penetrate the everyday lives of English gentlemen? The monograph reveals not only the history of games but also the evolution of British ideas about enlightenment, scientific knowledge, and leisure. Georgiy Shpak is a candidate of historical sciences, a senior researcher at the Institute for the History of Science and Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and a lecturer at the Russian State University for the Humanities.