History of Malta

Early Settlement and Prehistory

The history of Malta began with human settlement at the beginning of the Neolithic period. Archaeological evidence suggests that the first inhabitants were farmers who settled on the islands around 5900 BC. However, their agricultural methods degraded the soil to the point where the islands became uninhabitable by around 2500 BC.

The First Cultural Flowering and Megalithic Temples

The Maltese islands were repopulated around 3850 BC by a civilization that built the megalithic temples, which are among the oldest preserved buildings in the world. This civilization reached its peak during this period but eventually collapsed around 2350 BC.

Successive Empires and Occupations

For over two millennia, Malta has been part of various empires and under the influence of successive powers. The Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Barbarians, Byzantines, Arabs (specifically the Aghlabides of Ifriqiya), Normans, Hohenstaufen, Angevins, Aragonese, and others have all occupied or controlled the islands at some point.

Medieval Period and Order of St John

The Maltese archipelago was also influenced by the Order of St John of Jerusalem, a Christian military order that played a significant role in the region. The Knights Hospitaller, as they are also known, ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798.

British Rule and Independence

In 1798, Malta was occupied by French forces, but it was later taken over by the British in 1800. Malta remained under British rule until it gained independence as a State of Malta in 1964. The country then became a republic in 1974 and joined the European Union in 2004.

Prehistoric Period

The Maltese prehistory remains poorly known, particularly for the periods before the Neolithic era. Despite being one of the most densely populated territories in the world (with over 1 million inhabitants), Malta has not revealed any significant prehistoric human evidence prior to the Neolithic period. In contrast, neighboring Sicily has a more extensive record of prehistoric human activity.

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