Page 9 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

Introduction

Flags are part of everyday life. more important in politics. Many
They are used by countries, newly-independent states choose
provinces, cities, international flags based on those of the political
bodies, organizations, and parties which secured independence.
companies. Revolutionary movements usually
have their own flags, and private
EARLY FLAGS and professional organizations are
The earliest known flags were used increasingly adopting flags.
in China, to indicate different parts This book deals with national,
of the army. In Europe flags began international and subnational flags,
with the Roman vexillum, a square and national coats of arms, and is
flag used by Roman cavalry, from arranged continent by continent.
which the term “vexillology”—the Among national flags are the state
study of flags—originated. In the ensign and flag, for government use
Middle Ages, heraldry became only on sea and land; the civil
important as a means of identifying ensign and flag, for private and
kings and lords. The distinctive commercial use; and the naval
coats of arms which developed ensign, flown by warships.
were used as flags, and some still Subnational flags may be
exist today. of states (USA), provinces (Canada),
cantons (Switzerland), overseas
FLAGS FOR IDENTIFICATION territories, or other such areas.
The most significant development of
flags was for use at sea. Ships flew KEY FLAGS IN WORLD HISTORY
flags for identification at a distance, Throughout history certain flags
and many of the rules of flag-use have become the inspiration of
developed at sea. Some well-known others, starting with the Stars and
flags were designed specifically for Stripes in 1777 (see pages 11–12) ;
naval use, including the Dutch and which has inspired more flags than
Spanish flags (see pages 121 & 136) any other. The same degree of
and the International code flags (see influence has been exercised by
page 238), which were used by ships the French Tricolore from 1794,
to communicate with each other. (see page 131), the Dutch Tricolor
(see page 121) and its major derivative
POLITICAL FLAGS the Russian Tricolor (see page 168)
With the growth of independent which gave rise to most of the flags
nation states, flags have become of eastern Europe.

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