DK Eyewitness Books: Flag

Book excerpt: Flags are used worldwide and are important symbols that embody the very spirit of each nation they represent. Flags and banners have a long and rich history that can be found in this spectacular guide to flags aroundthe world. Filled with thousands of full-color photographs, be and "eyewitness" to the story behind flags-from the earliest heraldic banners to the national flags of today. See the flag of a Chinese pirate ship, the banners of medieval knights, the flags of the French and Russian revolutions, and the national flags of 160 different countries. Learn how to signal by semaphore, how to hoist a flag, what stars represent on the American flag, and how flags were hoisted on the Moon and at the South Pole. Discover how Britain's Union Jack has changed over the years, the story behind the Japanese "rising sun," why many Dutch flags feature a picture of a hat on the end of a pole, and much, much more! Discover the story behind flags and banners their history, their meanings,and how they are used all over the world.