History of Malta

Republic of Malta is home to the oldest freestanding structure on the globe: the oldest of all the megalithic temples on the islands is il-Ġgantija, in Gozo (Għawdex) dating back to before 3500 B.C.. One of the very earliest marks of culture on the islands is the temple of Ħaġar Qim, which goes back between 3200 and 2500 B.C., resists on a hilltop on the southern boundary of the island of Malta. Neighboring to Ħaġar Qim, lies a different noteworthy temple site, l-Imnajdra. The people who constructed these constructions eventually died out or at any grade went away. Phoenicians settled the islands approximately 700 B.C., employing them as a frontier settlement from which they expanded through overseas explorations and trade in the Mediterranean Sea.

After the fall of Tyre, the islands later came under the command of Carthage (400 BC), a early Phoenician settlement, and then of Rome (218 BC). The islands flourished under Roman dominion, during which time they were conceived a Municipium and a Foederata Civitas. Numerous Roman antiquities still exist, proving the tight connection between the Maltese dwellers and the people of Rome. The island constituted a preferred among Roman soldiers as a base to retreat from active service. In AD 60, the islands were inspected by Saint Paul, who is supposed to have been castaway on the shores of the aptly-named "San Pawl il-Baħar" (Saint Paul's Bay). Reports of the flows and prevalent winds at the time however, show it more probable that the shipwreck happened in or close to Daħlet San Tumas in Marsascala.

After a period of Byzantine reign (4th to 9th century) and a likely sack by the Vandals, the islands were captured by the Arabs in AD 870. The Arabs, who commonly allowed the population's Christian religion, brought in the cultivation of citrus fruits and cotton, and irrigation systems. Arab influence can be seen most prominently in the contemporary Maltese language, a Semitic language which also comprises substantial Romance influences, and is written in a variation of the Latin alphabet.

The period of Arab rule went till 1091, when the islands were occupied by the Siculo-Normans. A century later the last Norman king, Tancredo di Lecce, named Margarito di Brindisi the 1st Count of Malta. Later rulers included the Angevin, Hohenstaufen, and Aragonese, who restructured a County of Malta in 1283. The Maltese aristocracy was founded during this period; some of it dating back to 1400. Roughly 32 noble titles stay in use nowadays, of which the oldest is the Barony of Djar il-Bniet e Buqana.

In 1814, as part of the Treaty of Paris, Malta officially became a part of the British Empire, and was exploited as a shipping stopover and fleet military headquarters. Malta's location half-way between Gibraltar and the Suez Canal evidenced to be its primary asset during these years, and it was believed to be an significant stop en route to India.

In the early 1930s, the British Mediterranean Fleet, which was at the time the primary contributor for the commerce on the island, was moved to Alexandria as an economic measure. Malta acted an eminent part during Second World War, owing to its proximity to Axis transport lanes. The courage of the Maltese people in their stressed battle versus enemy assault moved HM King George VI to honor the George Cross to Malta on a collective basis on 15 April 1942, "to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history". A few historians debate that the award stimulated Great Britain to incur disproportionate losses in holding Malta, as British credibility would suffer if Malta was afterwards gave up to the Axis, as Singapore had been. A reproduction of the George Cross now appears in the upper hoist corner of the Flag of Malta. The collective award remained unique until April 1999, when the Royal Ulster Constabulary became the 2d – and, to date, the only other – receiver of the collective George Cross.

After the war, and after the Malta Labour Party's failed effort at "consolidation with Great Britain", Malta was awarded independence on September 21, 1964 (Independence Day). Under its 1964 constitution, Malta at first kept Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Malta, with a Governor-General exerting executive dominance on her behalf. On December 13, 1974 (Republic Day), nonetheless, it became a republic within the Commonwealth, with the President as head of state. A defence arrangement signed shortly after independence (and re-negotiated in 1972) expired on March 31, 1979 (Freedom Day) when the British armed forces were recalled. Malta embraced an official policy of neutrality in 1980 and, for a short period was a member of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. In 1989, Malta was the venue of an crucial summit between US President Bush and Soviet leader Gorbachev, their 1st personal meeting, which indicated the closing of the Cold War.

Malta joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. Following the European Council of 21 to 22 June 2007 it joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2008.