The original name of the Monopoly game was The Landlord's Game.
The Landlord's Game: Monopoly's True Origin
The globally recognized board game Monopoly has a rich history that stretches back to the early 20th century, predating its more famous iteration. Its very first known version, conceived by American game designer Elizabeth Magie, was known as The Landlord's Game.
Key Historical Facts
- Designer: Elizabeth Magie
- Earliest Existence: As early as 1902
- First Patent: 1904
This pioneering game was designed by Magie to illustrate the economic principles of Georgism—specifically, to demonstrate how rents enrich property owners and impoverish tenants, and to promote the concept of a single land value tax. It laid the foundational elements that would later evolve into the iconic property-trading game we know today.
Evolution from The Landlord's Game to Monopoly
The Landlord's Game was initially self-published and spread through word-of-mouth and hand-copied versions, particularly popular on college campuses and among various communities. Over the years, players often modified the rules and the board design, leading to several variants. One such variant eventually caught the attention of Parker Brothers, who later published the game as Monopoly in 1935, albeit with a focus that often overshadowed Magie's original anti-monopolist intentions.
For more details on the extensive history of this influential board game, you can explore the History of Monopoly on Wikipedia.
