Understanding of this concept can be used to promote inclusion and collaboration in modern day education.

The magic circle represents a ritual space that both transforms and builds a sense of community. This is exemplified in this Mayan find, which involves rules, suspension of normalcy and shared experiences. The concept of the 'magic circle', introduced by Dutch historian Johan Huizinga, suggests that during games, players enter a temporary world with its own rules and boundaries. What educators can learn from ancient games The rituals and beliefs associated with the games fostered a collective understanding and reinforced the connections between the physical, spiritual and social realms. Mayan games were not solely intended for entertainment, but served as ways to connect with the divine.īy participating in these games, Mayan people experienced a sense of communal identity and belonging. Those who consistently lost were sometimes offered as sacrifices to the deities. They believed that victorious people or teams had been chosen by the gods. In Mayan culture, winning a game like this was seen as a sign of divine favor. Like other Mayan games, it was believed to influence the fate of harvests, the climate, communities and individuals. The game discovered in Chichén Itzá symbolizes the delicate balance between light and darkness, embodying a cosmic struggle. For Mayans, games provided a platform for the expression of physical abilities, the establishment of social order and the connection between the mortal and the divine. More than a simple recreational activity, it reflected the deep-rooted beliefs and values of the Mayan people. This game held significant cultural and religious importance for the Mayan civilization. The Mayan people appeared to have used it to play a ritualistic game with a heavy ball. Recently, a stone scoreboard was found by archaeologists in Chichén Itzá, Mexico's Yucatán peninsula. They include a cross-shaped board game called Patolli and a ball game called Pok-a-Tok. These games were thought to have the supernatural power to predict war. The Mayan civilization-which flourished in central America from BCE 2000 to 1500 AD-had several popular games. And the strategic game Go began in China 2,500 years ago. Chess originated in India over 1,500 years ago. The African cup board game Mancala has been played since BCE 1400. There's the chequerboard game Senet, played in Egypt around BCE 3100.

Mancala board game rules