What board games were around in medieval times?

It's hard to say for certain what board games were played in the medieval era. There are a few reasons for this:

* Lack of physical evidence: Board games made of wood or other perishable materials don't survive well over centuries. We have very few actual artifacts from medieval board games.

* Literary references: While some medieval literature mentions games, these descriptions are often vague and don't provide clear details about the mechanics of the games.

* Evolution of games: Games change and evolve over time. What we know as "medieval" games today may have had very different forms and rules in the past.

However, we can make some educated guesses based on the evidence we have:

Games that are likely to have existed:

* Chess: Chess was introduced to Europe from Persia via the Arabs around the 10th century. It became popular among the nobility and is well-documented in medieval literature.

* Backgammon: Backgammon is thought to be even older than chess, with origins in Mesopotamia. It's mentioned in medieval texts and its simple rules make it likely to have been widespread.

* Checkers: Similar to chess, checkers was likely played in various forms throughout the medieval era.

* Dice Games: Dice games, such as "Hazard" and "Chucking the Bones," were popular for gambling and entertainment. These are often mentioned in medieval literature and imagery.

* Table Games: These games, sometimes called "table-board games," may have involved various pieces and objects placed on a board with specific rules. The exact nature of these games is unknown.

Games that may have existed, but are less certain:

* Card Games: While playing cards is documented in medieval Europe, the exact nature of the games played is uncertain. It's possible that some games were played with homemade playing cards before the standard deck became popular.

* Board Games with Maps: Some scholars believe that board games with maps, used for strategic or educational purposes, may have been played in the medieval era. However, there is limited evidence for this.

Overall, while the specific details of medieval board games remain elusive, we can say with reasonable certainty that games like chess, backgammon, checkers, dice games, and possibly table games were played during this period. These games provided entertainment, education, and social interaction for people of all walks of life.