Color in History

by Genghis Kahn

We live in a colorful world, red roses, green grass, blue skies, and the many colors in a rainbow, provide moments of pleasure in a world that would be drab and boring if everything was black and white.

But what does color have to do with history, and vice versa? In the month's ahead, I'll give you a glimpse of how color plays a role in history.

The first color in this discussion will be the color blue.

Blue....one of the primary colors, is considered the color of loyalty, honor and patriotism. It is found in the flags of many countries, including the United States, and a favorite color in clothing.

Julius Caesar's legions were awed by the fierce warriors who resisted the Roman conquest of Britain. "All Britons dye themselves with woad which makes them blue," Caesar recorded, "so that in battle their appearance is more terrible."

Woad was extracted from the plant "Isatis tinctoria" which grew throughout Europe and Asia. The Romans themselves imported the dye from the East and used it to paint their armies' parade shields.

Most of the dress uniforms of all the European armies have had different shades of blue in part or all of their uniform. The U.S. Navy, Marines and Air Force all have blue uniforms

The color is so popular it is used in the English language to describe emotion "I am blue", temperature, "blue norther" and "blue with cold" and character "true blue".

Germany's highest medal in World War I was called "The Blue Max", and one of the most valuable trade objects of the American Indian was a blue stone called turquoise.

The color blue does fit into history.

1. Does blue play a prominent part in your household?

2. Do you know the breed of cat with Blue in it's name?