Timeline
1450
The Visconti-Sforza tarot deck is created in Milan, remaining today as one of the oldest surviving tarot decks.
1530s
The term "tarocchi" begins to replace "trionfi" (triumphs) as the name for the card game.
1440s
The earliest known tarot cards appear in northern Italy, used initially for a game called tarocchi.
1480
The game of tarot spreads to France and Switzerland from Italy.
1589
The Visconti-Sforza tarot deck is created in Milan, remaining today as one of the oldest surviving tarot decks.
1540
Italian author Francesco Marcolini publishes "Le Sorti," one of the first known books to mention the use of cards for divination.
1480
The game of tarot spreads to France and Switzerland from Italy.