The concept of playing cards likely traveled along the Silk Road, the ancient trade routes that connected China to the Middle East and Europe. By the late 14th century, playing cards had made their way into Europe, likely through interactions with the Islamic world in Spain and Italy.

When playing cards arrived in Europe, they underwent significant transformations. The early European cards were hand-painted and used for games and gambling. The decks consisted of four suits—swords, cups, coins, and polo sticks—which are similar to the suits in modern tarot decks. These cards were used by the wealthy and nobility for entertainment.

The evolution of playing cards into tarot cards is a bit murky and shrouded in historical mystery. Tarot cards, as we know them today, originated in the 15th century in Italy. The earliest known tarot decks were created for the Duke of Milan’s family in the 1440s. These early tarot decks were used for a game called Tarocchi, a trick-taking game similar to the game of Bridge.