Northern Pintail - South Korea

Castles are usually equated with Europe, but they can also be found in Korea. Three styles of castles were built in Korea: camp, city, and mountain. In Korea they served as formidable military installations to guard against intruders. European castles usually served dual roles as an armed fortress and official royal residence.

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Anas acuta - The northern pintail can be found in the northern regions of the Americas, Asia, and Europe. It is a migratory bird, usually the first to head south and the first to return north. It does not fly south of the equator for wintering. The pintail is known for its fast flying abilities. This is achieved through a slender body, long tail, and slightly swept back wings; most ducks have wings protruding straight out from the body. Pintails were once abundant throughout their range, but sharp declines have been noticed since the 1950’s.

Acorns - South Korea

An acorn is the nut of an oak tree. Each acorn contains one seed, sometimes two, enclosed in a cupule and further encased by an outer shell made of a tough fibrous material. Depending on species, acorns can take 6 to 24 months before reaching maturity. Acorns serve as a vital food source for many animals; pigeons, squirrels, mice, pigs, deer, and bears rely heavily on acorns as part of their diet. Human use of acorns has a long history stretching from ancient Greece to modern day Korea.

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When the Korean Empire was proclaimed in 1897, Emperor Gojong strived to modernize the nation through domestic and foreign reforms. Korea was able to disengage itself from the traditional close relationship it had with China, but soon found itself falling under the influence Tsarist Russia. Following the Russo-Japanese War, 1904 to 1905, Korea became a Japanese protectorate. The Japanese held Korea until the end of World War II; the country has since been divided between north and south.

Historical Flags of Asia

The Seljuk Empire ruled over a vast territory stretching from the Hindu Kush to Eastern Anatolia and from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf. The empire existed from 1037 until 1194.The Mughal Empire reigned over Northern India for almost 300 years. It was established when Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the Battle of Panipat in 1526.The Mughal Empire was displaced by the British East India Company and in 1858 was placed under direct control of the British Crown. Taejo Yi Seong-gye founded the Great Joseon Kingdom in 1392. The kingdom survived several invasions from China and Japan. Despite constant struggles against more powerful neighbors, it endured until 1897.The standard of Cyrus the Great, founder of the First Persian Empire, consisted of the Derafsh-e Shahbaz-e-Talayi, a golden falcon with wings spread and holding an orb in each talon.