Game Time!

History Is More Fun When We Play Together

Our ancestors didn't live in a vacuum. They lived in a world of discoveries, inventions, celebrations, tragedies, and extraordinary events. Some changed the course of history. Others changed the way ordinary people lived, worked, traveled, and raised their families.

When we research family history, it's easy to become absorbed in names, dates, and places. But there's a bigger story unfolding around those names. What was happening in the world when our grandparents were children? What discoveries might have amazed them? What events would have filled their newspapers or become conversations around their dinner tables?

Understanding when things happened helps us imagine the world our ancestors knew. A glimpse into old schoolbooks reminds us that our ancestors were often far more knowledgeable about history, geography, and world affairs than we might imagine.

And who says learning about history can't be fun?

The Chronology Game

We recently discovered The Chronology Game, and what a delightful surprise!

Although the game can be played alone, my husband, son, and I started playing together, pooling our knowledge, making educated guesses (and some wildly uneducated ones!), and occasionally laughing at just how wrong we could be.

Before long, we weren't simply playing a game. We were talking, remembering things we'd learned years ago, questioning what we thought we knew, and discovering things none of us knew at all.

It became a wonderful family conversation.

The game is simple to understand. You're given historical events and challenged to place them in chronological order, one at a time. Even when you guess incorrectly, you discover where the event actually belongs in history.

And there's always another opportunity to learn something new.

Bringing History Home

The next time you're playing, take a moment to think beyond the cards.

• Where were my ancestors when this happened?

• Wait, that happened in 1912? Isn't that about when Grandpa was born?

• Would my family have heard about this in the newspapers?

• How might this event have affected their everyday lives?

• Is there a family story, photograph, or letter from around that time?

You might be surprised where those type of questions lead.

Because sometimes, the most interesting part of a history game isn't getting the answer right. It's the conversations that follow.
And remember: If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right!

A Special Thank You

The Chronology Game was created by Friend of Heirloomed and Honorary Cousin Peter, who generously makes it available to us, completely free of charge. No subscriptions, no accounts, and no advertising.

We're delighted to share his creation with visitors to Heirloomed, and grateful to Peter for helping make history so much fun to explore.