The ancient Greeks and Romans also had their own versions of football-like games, with the Romans playing a game called harpastum that involved kicking and throwing a ball. In medieval Europe, various forms of football were played by different communities, often involving large groups of players and a ball that had to be kicked or carried to a target. These early forms of football were often violent and chaotic, with little in the way of rules or regulations. The modern game of football began to take shape in the 19th century, particularly in England, where the first official rules of the game were established in 1863 by the newly-formed Football Association.
