HISTORY OF MALTA

The Maltese Islands enjoy the warm rays of the sun throughout most of the year and are completely enclosed by the deep azure Mediterranean Sea. But, Malta, Gozo and Comino offer much more than just 'sun and sea'. The tiny size of the islands belies their rich, ancient history and the bravery, spirit and staunchness of their inhabitants.

Sun dried fields, jagged rockery and sheer cliffs are environmental characteristics of the Maltese Archipelago. Three small islands at the centre of the Mediterranean – mid-way Sicily and North Africa – Malta (the main island), Gozo (the much-smaller sister-island) and Comino (a resort-island) are endowed with a unique history and alluring beauty.

5200 BCE (Before The Common Era) is the date that indicates the settlement of the first inhabitants on the island of Malta, who had, most probably, journeyed over from Sicily, the Italian island situated 100 km to the North. Farming, fishing and hunting were the survival tools of these Neolithic people, who dwelled in caves and open locations.

THE TEMPLE PERIOD

Maltese history is overflowing with influences garnered from the myriads of foreign cultures that regularly invaded our coasts. The still surviving remains of Malta's prehistoric temples are a relic of one of the most amazing periods throughout the Island's colourful history – The Temple Period - that spanned 1100 years up to 2500 BCE. These temples are the oldest free-standing buildings in the world.

The most prominent symbol of this period is represented by the statues unearthed that carve the image of a fat lady – the embodiment of abundance and fertility – also referred to as 'the goddess of fertility'. Speculation as to what might have brought about the end of The Temple Period is rife, but history is still very vague on this point.

BRONZE AGE

The Temple Period was followed by the Bronze Age. An era that has left us the remains of some villages and settlements, together with erected altar-like stone structures called dolmen, and the mysterious cart ruts (pairs of parallel channels cut into rock surface), the origin and use of which is not known with absolute certainty.

Captivating Sightseeing
Temple Period & Bronze Age Remains

• Ghar Dalam – a cave located in Birzebbuga where interesting fossil remains dating back to the Ice Age, were discovered. The Museum adjacent to the cave showcases the bones of Pleistocene animals such as: dwarf elephants, hippos and deer.


• Ggantija Temples (in the shape of the goddess of fertility) situated in Xaghra on the sister island of Gozo.


• Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples (located close to Qrendi in Malta).


• The Tarxien Temples.


• The Hypogeum in Paola where pre-booking a visit is necessary.


• Carts Ruts found in various locations, amongst which the most popular in Clapham Junction close to Rabat Malta.


• Admire archaeological remains housed in the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta or in the small Archaeology Museum in the Cittadella on the island of Gozo.

THE PHOENICIANS

The Phoenician stronghold that spread throughout the Mediterranean from the year 1000 BCE did not overlook Malta. The Phoenicians were a nation of traders originating from present-day Lebanon, who dominated the main Mediterranean trade routes and held fortresses at several points.

The name bestowed onto our main island by these people was 'Malat', which translated into 'safe harbour'. Two candelabra inscribed in the Phoenician and Greek languages, that were unearthed in 1697, can be separately viewed at the National Archaeological Museum in Valletta and at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

THE ROMAN EMPIRE

From Phoenician colonization to Carthage, Malta finally fell into the hands of the Romans in 218 BCE following the so-called second Punic War, one of many fought between the Romans and the Carthaginians. The Romans called the island 'Melita', from which the present name of Malta is derived. Melita was also the name given to the island's capital that encompassed the city of Mdina together with parts of Rabat.

THE SHIPWRECK OF SAINT PAUL

Saint Paul's Shipwreck in the year 60 CE carries enormous significance to the Maltese population who are very proud to have this event recounted in detail in the Bible in the Act of the Apostles chapters 27 and 28. Legend has it that the shipwreck of the Roman vessel carrying Paul the Apostle, among other prisoners, took place off the appropriately named St. Paul's Bay. Received with the Maltese people's trademark warmth, Saint Paul remained on the island for 3 months, during which time he performed a number of prominent healings and miracles.

Saint Paul is further credited with the religious conversion of the Maltese to Christianity. The religious beliefs held by the Maltese population are still strong up to this day, although foreign cultures and multi-religious influences are increasingly remoulding Maltese culture.

Saint Paul is the patron saint of Malta and has the Cathedral of Mdina dedicated to him.

Captivating Sightseeing
Phoenician & Roman Eras

• Phoenician remains are not rife. There is the Temple of Tas-Silg that cannot, though, be visited. Furthermore, in Gozo, there is the rock-cut Phoenician sanctuary at Ras il-Wardija behind the village of Kercem. Phoenician tombs have also been discovered throughout Western Malta and are properly indicated on some good tourist maps.


• The newly-restored Museum of Roman Antiquities in Rabat is a highly-recommendable experience. Commonly referred to as the Roman Villa, it contains the remains of a Roman patrician house with some of the most well-preserved mosaic floors dating back to the 1st century CE.


• Also in the Rabat area, one can visit St Paul's and St Agatha's Catacombs – subterranean burial complexes used during the Roman and Early Christian periods.

THE ARABS

Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Malta briefly passed under the hands of the Byzantines until 870 CE, whereupon it was occupied by Sicilian Arabs. The stong influence exerted over the Maltese by these colonizers is still visible to this day. This period saw the introduction of new irrigation techniques and new crops, such as citrus fruits and cotton. The erection of small rubble walls to protect the fields from erosion hitan tas-sejjieh), still in popular use in the countryside, also dates back to Arab dominion.

The old roman city of Melita was reduced in size, and renamed Medina – meaning 'fortified city', while the rest of the old city outside the walls was called Rabat – 'suburb'. Many town names still owe their origin to the time spent under Arabic influence. The city of Mdina, extensively modified during this period, still bears the Arab touch that gives it a slight resemblance to a North African town, even though remnants from more recent times are also intermingled and clearly visible.

The fact that a tiny island such as Malta has its own distinct language is the cause of much surprise amongst tourists visiting our island. The Maltese language is unique from other languages although it can be clearly traced to Arabic dialect descent. It also bears the influence of Malta's subsequent colonizers : the Italians and the British. The Maltese language is further notable in that it is the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet. Most Maltese also fluently speak Malta's second language 'English'.

THE SPANISH EMPIRE

Roger II succeeded in establishing Norman rule in Malta in 1127, following several failed attempts by his father Count Roger the First to do the same. Malta gradually started adopting European culture over the Arabic one.

Until Malta became firmly part of the Spanish Empire in 1479, it passed through the ownership and rule of a number of powerful feudal lords.

Captivating Sightseeing
Arabic and Norman Rule

• A visit to the Silent City of Mdina is a mesmerizing MUST.


• An example of a Norman window can still be seen in Birgu.


• The Roman Villa in Rabat also houses Muslim tombs from the Arabic Period.

THE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST JOHN

The early 16th century saw the spread of the Ottoman Empire under Suleiman I, with its expansion reaching into Southeast Europe. Fearing that the Turks would reach Rome from Southern Italy, and thus effectively mark the end of Catholic Europe, Charles V handed over the Maltese Islands to the Knight Hospitallers of St John in 1530. These same knights, who had transformed themselves from protectors of the pilgrim route in the Holy Land, to Hospitallers into a noble monastic and military order, had been expelled from their previous domain in Rhodes in 1522 by the much-feared Ottomans. They had passed the intermittent 8 years roaming about without fixed abodes and headquarters.

The Maltese Islands experienced the Knights' rule for the next 275 years, during which time they built towns, palaces, churches, gardens and fortifications. They enriched the islands with numerous works of art and proceeded to enhance Malta's cultural heritage.

Since most of the territory covered by the Knights during their traveling and roaming experiences involved many seaways, the Order became highly-skilled and feared seamen.

THE GREAT SIEGE OF MALTA

The centrepiece of such great novels as 'The Sword and the Scimitar' and 'The Religion', The Great Siege of Malta is one of the most prominent and important Maltese historical events.

In 1565, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered a final full-force attack on the Ottoman antagonists – the Knights of St John. The Knights had settled themselves in the small town of Birgu, which together with Mdina was a major urban location, besides having excellent harbours that allowed the Knights to house their fleet there. Birgu's defenses were strengthened and new fortifications were erected on present-day Senglea. The small fort of St Elmo was also erected at the tip of where today Malta's capital city of Valletta stands.

Although the Knights tried to strengthen Malta's defenses as much as they could, time was not on their side. On the 18th of May 1565, Suleiman and his fleet laid siege on Malta. The Ottoman attack first targeted the newly erected fort of St Elmo. Although the Knights knew that the Fort was hopelessly doomed, they fought valiantly and bravely for a whole month before ceding it into the Turks' savage hands. This protracted assault on Fort St Elmo seriously affected the Ottoman fleets' numbers and spirit who now turned their attention to the conquest of Birgu and Senglea.

The Siege came to an end on the 8th September 1565, when the Ottomans conceded defeat against the Knights of St John and the Maltese inhabitants, who made up for their lack of fighting experience with their sheer determination and impressive bravery. Having launched an attack of 40000 against just 9000 Knights and inexperienced Maltese, the Ottomans had been fooled in expecting a swift victory. The Siege of Malta marked a very demoralizing episode in their history as they suffered the loss of thousands of Turkish lives. The Sultan died a few years thereafter, and no other significant military forays into Europe were further undertaken by the infamous Ottoman Empire.

THE CAPITAL CITY OF MALTA – VALLETTA

Following the impressive victory of 1565, the Grandmaster of the Knights of the Order of St John, Jean Parisot de la Valette, commissioned the planning of a new fortified city, the defenses of which would be second to none. The fortifications' efficacy though was never tested. The new city was named Valletta and was designed by the Italian architect Francesco Laparelli with the assistance of the Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar.

Having adopted Malta as their home, the Knights heavily invested in the island. Many of the Order's members were born to noble families and had gathered considerable income for services rendered as guardians of the pilgrim route to the Holy Land (despite their vow of poverty).

Many buildings utilized during the Knights' occupation of Malta still exist. Amongst these are the magnificent Palace of the Grandmaster in Valletta, various Auberges that housed different Order langues, parts of the 16th century defenses surrounding the city of Birgu, as well as the San Anton Palace (abode of the President of Malta) and San Anton Gardens in the village of Attard.

FRENCH RULE

The popularity of the Order among the Maltese and its power over them gradually declined until its reign in Malta ended in 1978, with the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte's fleet. Having duped the Knights into allowing his fleet to stop for a short while in Malta on its way to Egypt, Napoleon turned his forces on the island's Order, whose surrender was conceded by Grandmaster Hompesch.

The Maltese inhabitants' favour of the French over the unpopular Knights was short-lived as Napoleon looted both the Order's assets as well as Maltese assets. The French snatched anything valuable within their sight, including many extremely valuable church treasures.

The French stampede through the island greatly angered the Maltese who rebelled and forced them to retreat into Valletta. Attempts to expel the French invaders from the capital city failed. The Maltese therefore, requested British assistance and in 1800, the French garrison finally surrendered to Rear Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.

BRITISH COLONISATION

The Maltese Islands voluntarily became part of the British Empire and were ruled as a British crown colony. The 19th century witnessed the ever-increasing importance of Malta to the British, as with the opening of the Suez Canal, the islands' excellent harbours became considered British prize assets. Malta became a British military and naval fortress upon which the Maltese economy heavily depended. Notwithstanding this economic flourish, the Maltese lived in constant poverty amid escalating prices. This led to various riots, amongst which those of the 7th of June 1919 in protest against the rise of the price of bread. 7th June marks the tragic death of a number of Maltese who protested against their colonizers, whose bravery is still commemorated each year on the public holiday of 'Sette Giugno'.

Following these events, Malta became increasingly autonomous from the British with the Maltese Parliament being established in 1921. Despite this, the political situation of the 1930s was very unstable with the constitution being superceded several times.

THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Having served as a British base during the Second World War, Malta was the target of heavy Italian and German artillery. Particular strife was suffered in Valletta and in The Three Cities – namely Birgu, Bormla and Isla. The Maltese population's gallantry and bravery during the War brought an unexpected closeness to the British, and resulted in the granting of the George Cross to the Maltese by King George VI on the 15th of April 1942. The George Cross is the highest civilian award for gallantry given 'to the island fortress of Malta – its people and defenders'. Also of great pride to the Maltese is American President Franklin Roosevelt's description of Malta during the war as 'one tiny bright flame in the darkness'.

INDEPENDENCE

With the end of World War II, self-government was introduced but locals heavily favoured total independence from the British, which was achieved on the 21st September 1964. The Queen, though, was still recognized as the Head of State. Malta became a Republic in 1974 with its own first President being Sir Anthony Mamo. In 1979, the last British forces left the Maltese Islands. 13th December is remembered as Republic Day while the 31st March is commemorated as Freedom Day.

Glimpses of Malta during the War can be caught at the War Museum in Fort St Elmo and in the Lascaris War Rooms in the Valletta fortifications. An audio-visual Wartime Experience is daily screened at Valletta's cinema theatres. An aviation Museum boasting a collection of military airplanes is situated in Ta' Qali, close to the Crafts Village; Ta' Qali served as an airfield during the British Period. The Mosta Church Dome, one of Europe's largest domes, built in the 19th century, experienced a direct hit during the war by a bomb that miraculously did not explode. A replica of the bomb can be viewed in the Church's sacristy.

EUROPEAN UNION ACCESSION

Malta's recent history has been dominated by the bid and subsequent accession into the European Union on the first of May 2004, amid political strain between the country's two largest political parties hotly exposing opposing EU-views.

The next significant historical landmark is sure to be the adoption of the Euro as Malta's currency in replacement of the Maltese Lira, which is planned for the 1st of January 2008.