Lottery- Its History
http://www.onlineresourcesdirectory.com/articles/375/1/Lottery--Its-History/Page1.html
Evangelin S
By Evangelin S
Published on Wednesday 28th 2009
It has been a very long time that lotteries are around us! The evidence
of lottery is also found in the Bible. In the bible it is mentioned
that Caesar had encouraged lottery games in Rome in order to help pay
for repair work that needed to be done in the city.
It has been a very long time that lotteries are around us! The evidence of lottery is also found in the Bible. In the bible it is mentioned that Caesar had encouraged lottery games in Rome in order to help pay for repair work that needed to be done in the city. History also says that the Great Wall of China was paid for by the proceeds of lottery games!
Europe was a hub of lottery activities in the medieval times. In 1420, inhabitants of the French town of L’Ecluse decided to follow Caesar's lead and in that effort they used a public lottery to help raise money but to increase the town's defenses. Charitable causes also led officials in the Belgium city of Bruges to organize a lottery in 1466 in order to raise money for the poor and needy people.
Similarly, in the early 16th century, the Italians also got inclined to lottery as they introduced the idea of a ‘number’ lottery in Florence. Interestingly, the word ‘lottery’ is also believed to be originated from the Italian ‘lotto’, meaning “fate”.
Royalty caught on to lottery's moneymaking potential in 520, when King Francis I of France organized the first ever state lottery, which went to the Royal Court. After forty years, in the 1560s, lottery fever crossed the English Channel as Queen Elizabeth I decided to hold her own state lottery to raise money in order to improve England's ailing harbors. Her Majesty's prizes included tapestry and money. Actually, lottery gained in popularity in England over the next two centuries. The British Museum in London was actually started on the proceeds of a lottery in 1753.
Lotteries got popular in the New World in the 18th century. Benjamin Franklin used lottery to pay for the cannons that helped win the American War of Independence, which were also used to pay money to the army. According to history, the Mountain Road, one of the key routes into the west from Virginia, was also paid for with a lottery organized by George Washington.
Throughout the history, individuals were fond of lotteries. Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. President sold most of his property through a lottery scheme. There are also some historic colleges and universities in America that were initially set up with the proceeds of lotteries.
Europe was a hub of lottery activities in the medieval times. In 1420, inhabitants of the French town of L’Ecluse decided to follow Caesar's lead and in that effort they used a public lottery to help raise money but to increase the town's defenses. Charitable causes also led officials in the Belgium city of Bruges to organize a lottery in 1466 in order to raise money for the poor and needy people.
Similarly, in the early 16th century, the Italians also got inclined to lottery as they introduced the idea of a ‘number’ lottery in Florence. Interestingly, the word ‘lottery’ is also believed to be originated from the Italian ‘lotto’, meaning “fate”.
Royalty caught on to lottery's moneymaking potential in 520, when King Francis I of France organized the first ever state lottery, which went to the Royal Court. After forty years, in the 1560s, lottery fever crossed the English Channel as Queen Elizabeth I decided to hold her own state lottery to raise money in order to improve England's ailing harbors. Her Majesty's prizes included tapestry and money. Actually, lottery gained in popularity in England over the next two centuries. The British Museum in London was actually started on the proceeds of a lottery in 1753.
Lotteries got popular in the New World in the 18th century. Benjamin Franklin used lottery to pay for the cannons that helped win the American War of Independence, which were also used to pay money to the army. According to history, the Mountain Road, one of the key routes into the west from Virginia, was also paid for with a lottery organized by George Washington.
Throughout the history, individuals were fond of lotteries. Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. President sold most of his property through a lottery scheme. There are also some historic colleges and universities in America that were initially set up with the proceeds of lotteries.