The history of bowling dates back to the Stone Age. The first evidence of the game was discovered by British anthropologist Sir Flinders Petrie and his team of archaeologists in Egypt in the 1930s. He unearthed a collection of objects from a young boy’s grave that appeared to have been the earliest form of the game. However, some argue that the game evolved much later. William Pehle, a German historian, stated that the game of bowling originated in Germany around 300 AD In Germany, the game originated as a religious ceremony to determine the absence of sin. This game, introduced by German monks to the masses, flourished as a common test of faith.
In England, bowling started as early as the 12th century. Throughout England, several variations of bowling, such as half bowls, skittles, and skittles, existed by the mid-13th century. But, the first written mention of the game was made by King Edward III in the year 1366. In this reference, he supposedly imposed a ban on playing this game among his troops because it distracted the troops from archery practice. . Later, during the reign of King Henry VIII, the game gained popularity and was played as a symbol of nobility and social status.
Bowling has been popular in the United States since colonial times. During the 17th century, English, Dutch, and German settlers imported their own version of bowling to the United States. At the time, the game consisted of nine bowls played regularly in an area of New York City still known as “Bowling Green”. Connecticut outlawed bowling in 1841 due to its implications on the game.
The American Bowling Congress was formed on September 9, 1895 and is credited with standardizing bowling in the United States and organizing official competitions. The Women’s Bowling League followed in 1917, under the encouragement of owner Dennis Sweeny.
Through the years, the game has changed. A variety of tactics have been developed. The invention of the automatic pinspotter in the 1940s revolutionized both the game of bowling and the industry. Currently, the sport of bowling is enjoyed by 95 million people in more than ninety countries around the world.
