The Origin and Development of Flags

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The Origin and Development of Flags
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Vexilloid

• Flag of the prehistoric leader of hunter
  gatherers who settled disputes.
• Usually military or ceremonial signs
• The name flag was not used linguistically until
  the 1500s. It derived from the Middle English
  word flakken which means to fly.

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Silk

• Starting in 1500, China used silk for flags
  because it was strong and easier to carry than a
  vexilloid.
• Fabric Flags spread from China through India to
  Rome and the rest of Europe
• Reflected the hierarchy of Chinese Society using
  such symbols as dragons, tigers, hawks, turtles
  and snakes.

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Identification

• In the 12 century, flags served as a way to
  identify rulers, their domain and nationality at
  sea.
• The first national flags evolved around 1775.
• In the 1800s and 1900s, flags began to represent
  government agencies, ranks in the military,
  schools, organizations, and political movements.

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Shape

• Most national flags
• are rectangular.

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Proportions

• The ratio of width to length for uniformity
• Organizers of international conferences and
  sports events usually adopt the same proportions
  for flags that are displayed together.

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Design

• Divisions should be chosen for aesthetic value
  and for enhancement of meaning

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Designs cont

• Emblems should be large and as simple as
  possible.
• Have few lettering or numbers
• No more than three colors (easy to see from a
  distance)
• Place emblems in important parts of the flag
• Upper right hand corner
• Middle of flag

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Colors
Palau
Jamaica
Libya
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China
Japan
New Mexico
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Maldives
Ireland
Mozambique
Mexico
Macao