Board game design history: the origins of common mechanisms and genres:

https://opinionatedgamers.com/2018/07/09/the-innovators-mechanical-innovations-part-1/

https://opinionatedgamers.com/2018/07/10/the-innovators-mechanical-innovations-part-2/

https://opinionatedgamers.com/2018/07/11/the-innovators-new-genres/