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Bowling, a seemingly modern pastime, has roots stretching back thousands of years. Evidence suggests a proto-bowling game existed in ancient Egypt around 3200 BC. Similar games appeared in other cultures, evolving into variations like lawn bowling and nine-pin bowling in Europe.
- Earliest evidence of proto-bowling found in an Egyptian child's grave dating back to 3200 BC.
- Ancient Polynesians played Ulu Maika, a game involving rolling volcanic rock discs for distance.
- A game resembling modern bowling emerged in Germany around 300 AD, where knocking down a pin symbolized freedom from sin.
- The oldest surviving bowling green, built in 1299, is in Southampton, England.
- King Edward III banned bowling for soldiers in 1366 due to its distraction from archery practice.
- Henry VIII was an avid bowler, and variations like nine-pins and skittles emerged during his reign.
- Martin Luther, also a bowling enthusiast, standardized the number of pins to nine.
- Dutch settlers brought their version of bowling, known as kegelen, to North America in the 17th century.
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