Malta

Malta is an island country located in Southern Europe.

It sits within the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa. The nation is an archipelago, which is a group of islands.

Malta is the tenth-smallest country in the world by land area. However, it is the ninth-most densely populated country on Earth. Because many people live in a small space, some call it a city-state. The capital city is Valletta.

Valletta is the smallest capital city in the European Union by both area and population.

The history of human life on Malta began in the Mesolithic period.

Archaeologists believe hunter-gatherers arrived around 6500 BC. These people likely came from Sicily. To reach the islands, they crossed about 100 km of open water. This was the longest known sea crossing by hunter-gatherers in the Mediterranean. Later, Neolithic farmers arrived around 5400 BC. They grew cereals and raised livestock. These farmers lived in sites like the Għar Dalam cave.

One of Malta's most famous eras involved the building of megalithic temples.

Around 3500 BC, people built massive stone structures. The Ġgantija temples on Gozo are among the oldest free-standing structures in the world. Other important sites include Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. These temples often used a trefoil design, which is a three-lobed shape. Evidence suggests these people may have worshipped a fertility goddess. This culture disappeared around 2500 BC, possibly due to disease or famine. Later, Bronze Age immigrants arrived and introduced smaller stone structures called dolmens.

Malta's central location gave it great geostrategic importance. This means its position was very important for military and trade power. Many different groups ruled the islands over many centuries. The Phoenicians used the islands as a stop on trade routes. They called their primary port Maleth.

After the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians and Romans controlled the islands. During the Roman era, Malta became a free town. This status meant it was exempt from certain Roman laws and taxes. The islands also became an early center of Christianity after the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked there.

The Middle Ages brought new influences to the islands. The Arabs conquered Malta in 870.

This period started an Arab Agricultural Revolution. They introduced new irrigation methods and crops like cotton. The Siculo-Arabic language used during this time eventually evolved into the Maltese language. Later, the Normans conquered the islands in 1091.

Following the Middle Ages, the Knights Hospitaller and the British ruled the islands. Malta served as a headquarters for the British Mediterranean Fleet. During World War II, Malta was besieged by the Axis powers.

This made the islands an important Allied base.

Malta achieved independence in 1964. It later became a parliamentary republic in 1974. The country has since joined several international organizations. It became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.

Malta joined the European Union in 2004. In 2008, it joined the eurozone, which is a monetary union.

This means Malta uses the euro as its currency. Today, Malta is a developed country with a high-income economy. It relies heavily on tourism. Visitors come for the warm climate and historical monuments. The islands host three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, Valletta, and the megalithic temples.

The culture of Malta is a mix of many historical influences. Its proximity to Europe and North Africa shaped its art and music. The architecture also reflects its many rulers. Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. Maltese is the national language. However, many people also speak Italian. This is because Italian held official status from 1530 to 1934. Between 62 and 66 percent of the population has significant knowledge of Italian. This deep history makes Malta a unique place in the Mediterranean.