Heraldry

Heraldry stems from European history and is still very much alive today, mainly in Europe but also on other Continents. Migrating and colonizing Europeans introduced it as a means of identification, mostly for the warriors on the battlefield, in the form of shields. This eventually developed into seals used to authenticate documents and the use of armorial devices spread to bodies such as municipal governments, craft guilds and the church. These arms gradually became hereditary and it became the custom to display armorial bearings. No longer used on the battlefield, they became rooted in the tradition and culture of Europe.