Most historians agree that the game of chess was first played in northern India during the Gupta Empire in the 6th century . This early type of chess was known as "Chaturanga", a Sanskrit word for the military. The Gupta chess pieces were divided like their military into the infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. In time, these pieces became the pawn, knight, bishop, and rook. The English words "chess" and "check" both come from the Persian word "shāh" meaning king.