It is believed that the word 'tarot' has been derived from the word 'turuq'.
This is an Arabic word and means four ways.
Tarot cards include 21 trump cards and also a fool card and an extra card in every suit as well as normal playing cards.
They were first used some time in the 14th century.
Feliciano Busi described these cards as having originated from Saraciana, which is another name for Arabia.
The Arabs used them for a card game known as Tarocchi.
Some of the theories say that the tarot cards originated between 1410 and 1430 in Bologna, Milan or Ferrara which are situated in northern parts of Italy.
And, the trump cards were a late addition to the cards.
These new cards which were added were called triumph cards.
The people used the cards to play a game that was very akin to Bridge.
Soon, the game became quite popular in the northern region of Italy and eastern parts of France.
As time went by, the symbols and pictures on the cards changed; and soon tarot cards became popular also in Austria, Germany and Sicily.
After many centuries people who believed in divination, started using them to make predictions.
This fascinated the French and the English.
Many civil governments banned playing normal cards, but not the tarot.
However, it was only in the year 1781 that the meaning of different cards was interpreted.
This interpretation was done by a Protestant pastor named Antoine Court.
Gypsies in Europe were the first to use tarot cards to predict the future.
And, between the 18th century and 19th century, occultists and mystics had started using the art to predict and foretell people's future.