Maybe you've ever stopped to think where the flags come from, because they have those colors or shapes, because some have drawings and others have stripes.Because there are flags of different countries that are very similar, it may be a coincidence or perhaps they have something in common.To this and other questions we will answer in this article that we have titled The history of the flags of the world.
History of the flags of the world | Origin of the Flags
The flags are responsible for generating the identity signals of a country , it is the embodiment of a series of values that hold a community together or region that share a series of characteristics, whether geographical, cultural or historical.
When several nations have shared a common period in history, it is normal that they also share symbols, examples such as the flags of the Nordic countries or as with New Zealand and Australia.
Today all countries are represented by their corresponding flag, but not only serve to represent countries, it also represents organizations, locations or institutions.Loaded fabric pieces of a great symbolism that serves as a union and as a sign of identity of individuals who share a ter common river.
It is believed that the first flags have their origin in the Asian continent, more exactly in what is now Burma, but there is no historical documentation that supports it, so we can consider the place of appearance of the first flag in the Persian Empire.During the Aquemenide Dynasty S VI-S II BC, the Derafsh Kaviani flag was taken as a symbol of the impressive empire.
Derafsh Kaviani
This flag will appear later in the Sasanida Empire AD 224-651, in the region of Iran , so it could be considered the first flag of this country.
The Roman Empire , was the first to use flags in Europe, the first flags were the banners that carried the Roman legions, in these pieces of cloth where used to represent ntar animals of strength like the eagle, dragons or lions.Little by little these banners were initially rigid, they became more flexible until they came to what we know today as flags.
From now on the flags begin to respond to different purposes, such as religious badges, to identify cities, empires, guilds, etc.Soon it was given a much more useful belica , on the battlefields, the flags were used to identify the different armies and within these the different units, being able to shape, plan war strategies.
In the maritime trade they were also vitally important, when a ship arrived at the port, you could know your nationality , improving in this way the commercial relations and knowing at the moment what type of merchandise could carry taking into account your flag of origin.
Flag of the Plaza de Cartagena de Indias
As a result of maritime commerce and much more when the new trade routes with the Indies began, the use of the flags would no longer only be to identify vessels, but a true communication language was created, moving the arms in certain ways messages or signals were emitted through which the ships could communicate despite being over long distances.
Now that we know a little more about the origin of the flags and what they represent, we are going to see the different flags of the world, how they are and what they represent.
History of the flags of the world | Flag of Spain
The flag of Spain has undergone several modifications to throughout its history, initially they were banners and each company or detachment sported a different banner.
Cruz de Borgona (1506-1701) Flag representing the Spanish pavilion
Later during the reign of Carlos III and due to the constant wars , the king saw the need to differentiate the Spanish pavilion from the rest of the banners, since in most of them the predominant color was white and by far, in case of battle, they distinguished themselves very bad the own ships of the enemies.
The king summoned a contest of ideas and triumph the bicolor, red and yellow flag .These colors have been maintained throughout history, although also and during the second republic is added one more color, purple, that symbolized Castile.
Currently the flag of Spain sports three horizontal stripes, being the ends bands in red and the center and double thickness in yellow color.
Legitimated Flags of Spain
On the left, the national shield, where Castilla, Leon, Aragon, Navarra and Granada are represented.They also present the image of two columns, those of Hercules one on each side of the shield , one of the columns represents Gibraltar and the other Ceuta.A red band borders the columns with the Plus Ultra inscription (beyond), recalling the discovery of America and replacing the old motto of NON PLUS ULTRA, which the Catholic kings wore.
At least the flag has its history, because remember that the Spanish anthem has no official letter.Can it be more cumbersome than us?
History of the flags of the world | Flag of France
Colors of the French flag red, blue and white, arises as a result of the French Revolution. Round badges, worn by revolutionaries who in 1789, stormed the Bastille , were red, blue and white.After being considered the assault on the Bastille as the beginning of the Revolution, it was this color that the French wanted to associate with the new France, now republican.
The stripes of the French flag are represented in vertical and they are all of the same width, being the band that is more to the left is blue, white occupies the center and red the right part of the flag.
History of the flags of m undo | United Kingdom Flag
It is also known as Union Jack , is a flag of long tradition since it has been used since 1603, thanks to King James VI, who when becoming king of England, established that flag as a sign of identity.The flag represents both England like Scotland and Wales.
The cross of St.George , patron of England, occupies the central part, represented by a large red cross, it is surrounded by another white cross and all on a white background.The white diagonal cross represents San Andres , patron of Scotland, while Ireland, incorporated in 1801, after becoming part of the United Kingdom, is represented by a red diagonal cross, in honor of St.Patrick , its pattern.
History of the flags of the world | Greek Flag
In 1821 , during the uprising that took place in Greece against the Turks, a blue flag with a white cross drawn, I face the crescent of the Ottoman Empire.At this moment, the blue flag with a white cross has become part of the Greek people as its identity and flag.
The cross that initially was in the center, was changed to the upper left, adding 9 bands 5 blue and 4 white that they represent the nine syllables of the revolutionary slogan "Freedom or Death" (Eleftheria i Thanatos).
The blue color of the flag represents the sea as part of the inspiration of the revolt, while the white symbolizes the purity of revolutionary ideas. The cross is the representation of the Greek Church, the Orthodox Church.
History of the flags of the world | Flag of the United States
United States is currently the most powerful country in the world, but it is not by far one of the oldest.On the contrary, many of the others current powers were already hitting the world before even if the United States was considered a country.
As regards the United States flag itself, it counts with thirteen red and white horizontal stripes, which represent the thirteen founding states of the country.In the upper right corner there is a blue box in which you can see the 50 stars that represent the 50 states that make up the country.its national anthem is also closely linked to its flag and is called "Stars and Stripes."
It should be said that the first version of the flag dates from 1777, while the current version, the version with 50 stars, is from July 4, 1960.
History of the flags of the world | Flag of Mexico
The flag of Mexico is formed by three vertical stripes, green on the left, white in the center, and red on the right.In the center is the coat of arms.The latest version of the flag dates back to 1969.As in any country It is one of the most important patriotic symbols of Mexico.There are two original flags, one of them stored in the National Museum and the other in the National Archive.
History of the flags of the world | Flag of Argentina
The flag of Argentina is also, together with the national shield and the anthem, one of the great symbols of the Argentine Republic.Its origin is in the national cockade , that later Manuel Belgrano would apply to a flag with the same colors, blue and white.This was the year 1812, date on which the flag of the Republic of Argentina was enrabolo for the first time, in an act that was rejected at that time by the authorities.
It would not be until 1818 when the flag included S ol de Mayo , in homage to the events that took place in Buenos Aires in May 1810 and which was a symbol of the revolution.
History of the flags of the world | Flag of Italy
To know the origin of the current Italian flag must be traced back to the end of the 18th century, when Napoleon Bonaparte handed a green, white and red banner to three citizens of Lombardia who wanted to enlist in their troops.
This banner began to be used as a symbol of the Cispadana Republic.With the fall of Napoleon in 1814, the tricolor ceased to be used until the mid-nineteenth century, when the Austrians left the country and came to power the house of Savoy.From that moment the tricolor would be the flag of Italy and incorporate the shield of Savoy.
However, in 1946 there was the last modification of the Italian flag.fall of the In 1946, the monarchy removed the shield of the house of Savoy, and so it has remained since then until today.
History of the flags of the world | Flag of Germany
The flag of Germany with the colors we know today has its origin in the year 1919 , after the 1st GM when the country was in the Weimar Republic.These colors were chosen because they were the ones carried by German troops in the fights against Napoleonic troops.
During the Nazi period the German flag was replaced by the red flag with the Nazi symbol , with the famous eagle or a flag similar to the current one but with the colors black, white and red.After the fall of the Third Reich, and the separation of Germany, the black, red and gold flag was adopted by both both sides, both the Federal Republic and the Democratic Republic.With the reunification of Germany in 1990, it is declared a national flag.
History of the flags of the world | Flag of Brazil
The first versions of the flag from Brazil dates from the beginning of the 19th century, however, it was not until 1889 when a religious group decided to make some changes.The first flag was only used for just four days, and it was the same as the United States , except for the colors of the bars, which in the case of Brazil were yellow and green.
On November 19, the first official flag of Brazil was proclaimed, and that it was just as we know today: a yellow box on a green background.Inside the yellow box there is a blue circle with 27 stars inside and on which you can read the inscription « Order and progress permitted.
In any case, over time it has undergone some modifications, last in 1992, when it was approved by decree suulti mo design, which has a total of 27 stars.
History of the flags of the world | Flag of China
The Chinese flag has a red background and in it you can see 5 stars, a larger one and four others at its side forming a kind of crescent.this is called " the red flag of the 5 stars ".This flag was created by Zeng Liansong in 1949, and is the symbol of the communist party as well as the symbol of the country.they identify with the union between the members of the party and among the people themselves.The red symbolizes the color of the revolution, while the gold of the stars was done so simply to make them stand out over the red.
There is no doubt that many things can be learned from the countries about the history of their flags.In fact, they have undergone changes according to the bank that was in power.Hopefully each country can continue to maintain its own for many years., that would mean we would be living moments of peace.
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