The Maltese archipelago includes the islands of Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminotto and Filfla. It has a history of colonial control spanning centuries.

Located between Europe and North Africa, it has been occupied by Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and most recently France and Britain.

Independence from Britain was achieved in 1964, after the Maltese people were awarded the George Cross for defending the island during World War II. In 1973 Malta became a Republic and forty years on Malta was the smallest of the 10 countries to join the EU in May 2004.

• Population: 397,000 (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Valletta
• Area: 316 sq km (122 sq miles)
• Major languages: Maltese, English
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 81 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Maltese lira = 100 cents
• Main exports: Light Electronics, Pharmaceuticals
• GNI per capita: US $12,050 (World Bank, 2006)
• Internet domain: .mt
• International dialling code: +356

Click here to View a Map of the Maltese Islands.

  Some Historical Facts….

The oldest megaliths in the world are located on the islands of Malta and Gozo. Archeologists have dated the stone structures of Ggantija (the Giant's Tower), Hagar Qim, Tarxien, and Mnajdra to about 5200 BCE.

Romans (218 B.C.-5th century AD)

As part of the Roman Empire, the Maltese islands enjoyed economic prosperity. The Romans built a fortified capital on the site of present-day Mdina and Rabat, and developed port facilities in the Marsa area.

Byzantine and Muslim Malta (5th century .-1090)

The decline of the Roman Empire in the west affected the islands of Malta. Like other parts of the Roman empire in the west, Malta became part of the new Germanic kingdoms.

Medieval Malta: Normans (1090-1194), Hohenstaufens (1194-1266), and Angevins (1266-1282)

During the eleventh century, Christians and Muslims battled over land throughout the Mediterranean. Malta also became a battlefield. Muslim pirates, using Malta as a base, raided southern Europe. Roger I, king of Sicily, retaliated and gained control of Malta in 1090. Thus Malta came under the rule of the Norman kings of Sicily.

Spanish (1282-1530)

Under Spanish rule, Malta became part of a loose confederation of states known as the Crown of Aragon.

Knights of Malta (1530-1798)

After the loss of Rhodes in 1522, the Knights of the Order of St. John were left without a home. In 1530, the Order accepted Charles V's offer to create their new base on Malta. The Knights initially did not think Malta was a good location, citing its rocky landscape and lack of fresh water.
The Knights quickly discovered the benefits of Malta, such as its fine harbours, which sheltered and protected their ships. The Order of St. John began playing an important role in Mediterranean politics during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The hospital of the Knights in Valletta was one of the best in Europe. Perhaps the most significant episode in this period of the islands history was the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. In their bid to wipe out the Christian knights of Europe once and for all, the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Suleiman the Great attacked and laid siege to Malta at the onset of Spring in 1565. Led by the famous Admiral Dragut, the Ottoman fleet, which numbered in their thousands, approached Malta and landed a huge groundforce which significantly outnumbered the Knights of Malta . Besieged in the forts around what is now Valletta, namely Forts St. Angelo, St. Elmo and St. Michael, the knights put up a heroic resistance and against all the odds beat off the Ottoman invaders, in a feat of heroism unrivalled in Maltas history. The Ottomans never fully recovered from this defeat and the Knights of Malta went on to play a very important roll in Maltas development as the historic attraction that it is today.

French (1798-1800)

The Maltese initially favored Napoleon's takeover of the island in 1798, because the Knights had resisted many reforms favored by the Enlightenment. Napoleon ended the Inquisition, the use of judicial torture, and privilege based on birth.

Malta during the Napoleonic Wars (1800-1814)

The British recognized that Malta was essential for the British fleet in the Mediterranean. The work of the Knights had made Valletta's Grand Harbor one of the most extensively fortified ports in Europe. The islands' central location in the Mediterranean made it an essential naval base for both sail and steam ships.

British (1814-1964)

Malta's service to the British Empire as a naval base is well documented. Malta nobly served during the two World Wars. During World War II, Malta was the target of German and Italian bombing attacks. The island endured the heaviest conventional bombardment of the entire war. To honor the valor of the Maltese people, King George VI awarded the George Cross to the "Island Fortress of Malta" in 1942. The cross appears today on the Maltese flag.

Republic of Malta (1964 - present)

Today, Malta is a parliamentary democracy. The government is headed by a prime minister with a ceremonial president. The official languages of the island are Maltese and English.