A brief history of chess

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Alex Gendler |

TED-Ed

• September 2019

The attacking infantry advances, their elephants already having broken the defensive line. The king tries to retreat, but the enemy flanks him from the rear. Escape is impossible. This isn't a real war— nor is it just a game. Over the 1,500 years of its existence, chess has been known as a military strategy tool, a metaphor for human affairs and a measure of genius. Alex Gendler shares its history. [Directed by Remus & Kiki, narrated by Adrian Dannatt, music by Stephen LaRosa].