Malta – from megalithic temples to an independent island republic
Malta's history reaches back to some of the oldest free-standing stone buildings in the world: its megalithic temples, such as Ġgantija on Gozo, predate the pyramids of Egypt. Thanks to its central position in the Mediterranean, the islands later attracted Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans. According to tradition, the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked here, and Christianity took root early.
After Byzantine rule, Arabs took the islands in the ninth century and left a strong mark on the Maltese language. The Normans arrived in 1091, and for centuries Malta followed the fortunes of Sicily. In 1530 Emperor Charles V granted the islands to the Knights of St John. They withstood the Great Siege by the Ottoman Empire in 1565 and then built the fortified capital Valletta. In 1798 Napoleon ended the rule of the Knights, but the Maltese rose against the French and, with British help, drove them out.
Malta became a British colony in the early nineteenth century and developed into an important naval base. During the Second World War it endured heavy bombing; in 1942 King George VI awarded the whole island the George Cross for its bravery. Malta gained independence in 1964, became a republic in 1974 and joined the European Union in 2004.
Today Malta is shaped by its layered heritage, its Catholic traditions, its unique language and its role as a bridge between Europe and North Africa.
Do you have memories or family stories from your town or village in Malta or Gozo? Share them with other members in the Local History section.