Researching and Writing About the History of Billiards

     I recently submitted an article to Ezine about the history of billiards. Some of the things that I found out were extremely interesting. I'm not talking about the actual game or even the evolution, however, that was fun also. There are so many different side stories that make mention to billiards throughout history.
     Between 1300 and 1400 the game was first played outside like today's croquet games. This is believed to be the first form of billiards.    
     In the 1400's it is mentioned that King Louis XI had the first indoor pool table.
     While in the 16th century, Mary Stuart, the queen of Scotland between 1542 and 1567 was known to have her body wrapped in her billiard table cloth. Later that century, the English poet, Edmund Spenser, mentions billiards in his work, Mother Hubberd’s Tale.
      The 1600's was a period of widespread popularity giving way to the very first cue use and equipment advances. Even Shakespeare made mention of billiards during this time in Antony and Cleopatra.
      In the 18th century, there were advances in cloth material by replacing cotton with wool.
     The most influential time has to be the 1800's since this was the century that spawned all the modern technologies of billiards. The modern cue and cue tip were introduced. Slate replaced wooden playing surfaces and the vulcanization of rubber gave way to the cushion. Really the modern table was invented.
     I also touch briefly on small impacts in the 20th and 21st century while ending the article with some speculative thoughts about the future of the sport.
     Stay tuned as it will be posted all over the Internet for your reading pleasure! You can check out some other articles of mine by clicking here.