I make no claim in this article to be a professional historian -- nor can I say that I have researched this topic for many decades of my life.  I'm just a person who has taken a great deal of interest in the humble shutter.  I'd like to share with you some of my thoughts and findings -- call it an "unofficial" history from an interested bystander --

For some reason, many people seem to be under the impression that door and window shutters are a relatively new invention -- in fact, these devices (or something similar to them) have been known to exist since ancient times.  What is new is primarily a development in the type of materials used, as well as advancements in construction methods.

There are several ways to categorize shutters: One way would be to distinguish between shutters that actually work (called functional shutters) and those that are used for purely decorative purposes (called decorative or non--functional shutters).  In ancient times, shutters were a necessity on windows, simply because pane glass was too expensive to install.  When the weather turned ugly, or you just wanted some privacy, you needed a way to block off the opening -- simply shut your exterior wood shutters and you would be all set.  

These types of shutters are sometimes called board and batten shutters, because they are constructed of a series of boards which are held together by wooden cross piece slats, called battens.  But keep in mind that some board and batten shutters are nonfunctional -- you simply attach them on either end of the exterior wall next to your window, and once they have been attached they cannot be moved in any way.

Another way to distinguish between various types of shutters is to categorize them according to whether they are to be installed on the outside wall of the building, or on the inside.  Exterior shutters are mounted on the outside wall, and if they are functional, they will swing inwards and can be closed and held in position. Interior wood shutters, on the other hand, are designed to be used indoors only -- this is important to keep in mind, as interior shutters may be made of thinner wood and are not designed to hold up under extreme weather and temperature conditions.

Another way of distinguishing among window shutters is to categorize them as traditional shutters, with a narrower slat, or plantation-style shutters, where the panels are larger in size.  Of course, when choosing the right type of shutters for installation in your home, keep in mind that larger shutters will cost more than smaller ones.

A final way of thinking about window shutters is to categorize them by the material that is used in their construction.  Traditional window shutters are made from wood -- and over the years they can be subject to wear and tear, especially if they are used as external shutters outdoors.  But new materials are being used as well: vinyl, aluminum, and even composite products such as polywood.  

Again, the different types of materials used in the construction of window shutters will influence their cost -- a shutter made from a solid, fine-grade hardwood may cost more than a garden-variety vinyl exterior shutter.  As a general rule I like vinyl exterior shutters because they are extremely durable and if you buy them from any reputable manufacturer the color will not fade, even when exposed to large amounts of sunlight.

Although many manufacturers will insist that their window shutters can be installed quite easily, my recommendation would be to use secure the services of a trained installer to make sure that your shutters are hung properly -- you don't save anything in the end if you botch the installation job and your window shutters end up being installed unevenly, or if they come down during the first windstorm.