Flags are old. They have been used for more than 5,000 years to represent families, tribes, cities, monarchs or religions. One of the oldest flags ever found is a small metallic flag from the ancient city of Khabis in eastern Iran dated to 3000 B.C. One of the earliest historical mentions of flags is of a Chinese emperor in 1122 B.C. who had a white banner carried before him wherever he went. Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations marched to war under flag-like emblems, often bearing representations of their gods such as eagles, owls, bulls, tortoises or the legendary Pegasus.

But flags as a national symbol are relatively new. They started coming into vogue around the 17th century, with one of the earliest being the flag of Great Britain created in 1606. Many of today's flags, including that of the United States came out of nationalist movements and revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Although most flag designs are rooted in history, they are by no means outdated. They change to reflect new government philosophies, expanding territories or even whims of rulers. Many of the current flags were adopted in their present form only within the past 50 years.

Telling a Tale

National flags are more than colorful pieces of cloth. They represent a country's philosophy, geography, history, culture and hopes for the future. Each aspect of a flag, its symbols, colors and shapes, tells a story about the nation and its people.

Flag symbols evolved in many ways, and even common symbols may have different meanings. Take the star, for example. On the U.S. flag, each of the 50 stars represents a state in the Union. On the Australian flag, five of the stars represent, well, stars. They are arranged in the shape of the Southern Cross, a constellation visible from Australia. On the Brazilian flag, stars stand for both states and stars. They are arranged in the form of actual constellations, with each star corresponding to a state. The black star in the center of Ghana's flag is a symbol of African freedom, while the three green stars on Iraq's flag represent the aspiration to find common solutions to Arab problems.

True Colors

The bright colors of national flags are not just fashion statements. They add another element to the story a flag tells about the country it represents. Here are a few common messages that colors send:

Red
Often means danger or revolution. It can signify blood shed in defense of the country or its principles, and has also come to represent communism or socialism.

White
Commonly signifies peace. It can also mean purity as in the flags of Greece and Thailand. Other meanings are more singular: The white rectangle on Chile's flag is seen to represent the snow of the Andes Mountains, while Peru's white and red stripes come from a group of flamingos that appeared during an attempt to liberate Peru from Spanish domination.

Blue
Traditional meanings include freedom, the sky or the sea. On North Korea's and Burma's flags, blue is seen as a commitment to peace; on Laos' flag it means prosperity.

Green
Can mean fertility, vegetation or agriculture. Other meanings include hope (Burundi, Nigeria) and independence (Mexico). Green is also recognized as a traditional Muslim color.

Yellow
This color has a variety of meanings including wealth (Brazil), the fruits of the people's labor (Guinea-Bissau), justice (Guinea), copper (Cyprus) and sunshine (Uganda).

Black
Often reflects the ethnic heritage of the people. It can also represent the defeat of enemies, as in Kuwait's flag, or determination, as with the flag of the Bahamas.

Colors grouped together sometimes take on different meanings. A common flag design is the tricolor. It was popularized by the French flag used during its revolution. Similar designs are seen today, primarily throughout Europe and Africa. The red, white and blue of the French and American flags symbolize revolution and freedom. Red, yellow and green known as Pan African colors are used throughout Africa to represent freedom and a desire for African unity. Similarly, red, white, black and green are Pan Arab colors, used by many nations in the Persian Gulf region.