Card games apparently originated in Asia before the 10^th century, perhaps first traveling from the Korean peninsula to central Asia. Decks with four suits and court cards developed in the Muslim world and probably jumped from Muslim Spain to the rest of Europe in the late 14^th century. Taroccki (Tarot) originated among the upper classes of northern Italy in the early 15^th century, and most of the traditional card designs reflect Christian European culture. Later in the 15^th century, the French introduced cards with suits of spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds--the cards we're familiar with today.  Americans added the Joker in the 1850s.