Main article: Megalithic Temples of Malta Some caverns in Malta have revealed bones of elephants, hippopotamuses, and other large animals now found in Africa, while others have revealed animals native to Europe. As the ridge was pushed up and the Strait of Gibraltar closed through tectonic activity, the sea level was lower, and Malta was on a bridge of dry land that extended between the two continents, surrounded by large lakes. At some time in the distant past, Malta was submerged, as shown by marine fossils embedded in rock in the highest points of Malta. Malta stands on an underwater ridge that extends from North Africa to Sicily. 7.4 Malta in the European Union (2004–present).7.3 The accession process to the European Union (1987–2004).7.2.2 Constitutional crisis in the 1980s.7.2.1 The end of British presence and shaky relations with Libya and Italy.6.3 British Malta during the Second World War.6.1 British Malta in the 19th and early 20th centuries.6 Malta in the British Empire (1800–1964).Since 2004, the country has been a member state of the European Union. Malta became an independent Commonwealth realm known as the State of Malta in 1964, and it became a republic in 1974. Due to this, Malta was attacked by the Axis powers during World War II, and in 1942 the island was awarded the George Cross, which today appears on Malta's flag and coat of arms. The islands became an important naval base for the British, serving as the headquarters of the Mediterranean Fleet. This was confirmed by the Treaty of Paris a year later. Malta subsequently became a British protectorate, becoming a de facto colony in 1813. The Order was expelled after the French First Republic invaded the islands in 1798, marking the beginning of the French occupation of Malta.Īfter a few months of French rule, the Maltese rebelled and the French were expelled in 1800 with British, Neapolitan and Portuguese assistance. The Order continued to rule Malta for over two centuries, and this period was characterized by a flourishing of the arts and architecture and an overall improvement in society. In 1565, the Ottoman Empire attempted to take the islands in the Great Siege of Malta, but the invasion was repelled. The islands were given to the Order of St. John in 1530, who ruled them as a vassal state of Sicily. At this point, the islands became part of the Kingdom of Sicily and were dominated by successive feudal rulers, including the Swabians, the Aragonese, and eventually the Spanish. The islands were invaded by the Norman County of Sicily in 1091, and a gradual Christianization of the islands followed.
Malta may have been sparsely populated for a few centuries until being repopulated by Arabs in the 11th century. The island was acquired by the Eastern Romans or Byzantines in the 6th century AD, who were expelled by Aghlabids following a siege in 870 AD.
They ruled the islands until they fell in 218 BC to the Roman Republic. Malta's prehistory ends in around 700 BC, when the islands were colonized by the Phoenicians. Their civilization collapsed in around 2350 BC, but the islands were repopulated by Bronze Age warriors soon afterwards. The islands were repopulated in around 3850 BC by a civilization which at its peak built the Megalithic Temples, which today are among the oldest surviving buildings in the world. The first inhabitants were farmers, and their agricultural methods degraded the soil until the islands became uninhabitable.
Malta has a long history and was first inhabited in around 5900 BC.
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