|  The
Republic of Malta comprises a small archipelago
in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, with only the three
largest islands (Malta, Gozo and Comino) being inhabited.
Population: 400,214 (July 2006
est.)
Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%
Languages: Maltese (official), English (official),
Italian (widespread)
Literacy: 92.8%
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice
the size of Washington, DC
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Malta Timeline: |
- about 5200 BC: People first arrive on Malta.
- about 3600 BC: The Temple period starts.
- about 2500 BC: The Temple period ends.
- about 1000 BC: The Phoenicians colonise the islands.
- about 720BC: A Greek colony is founded on the main island.
- 400 BC: The islands came under the control of Carthage.
- 218 BC: The islands came under the control of Rome.
- AD 60: Saint Paul was shipwrecked on Malta at a place now called St. Paul's Bay.
- AD 870: Malta was conquered by Arabs, who would greatly influence local culture, notably in the Maltese language.
- 1091: Count Roger I of Sicily established Norman rule.
- 1127: Under his son Roger II of Sicily Norman control was consolidated. Christianity was reestablished in Malta
- 1419: The Militia List is drawn giving information about the population of Malta in the Middle Ages
- 1522, Suleiman II drove the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem out of Rhodes. They dispersed to their commanderies in Europe.
- 1530: To protect Rome from Islamic invasion, in 1530 Charles V handed over Malta to these Knights.
- 1551 July: Ottomans and Barbary pirates conquered Gozo and enslaved all 5,000 or 6,000 inhabitants, bringing them to Tarhuna Wa Msalata in Libya. Their departure port in Gozo was Mgarr ix-Xini.
- 1565 This militant monastic order, now known as the "Knights of Malta", withstood a siege by the Ottoman Empire. Afterwards the Knights increased the fortifications, particularly in the city of Valletta.
- 1798: Napoleon used a ploy to seize the islands.
- 1800: Britain took the islands and appointed Sir Alexander John Ball as governor.
- 1814: As part of the Treaty of Paris, Malta officially became a part of the British Empire and was used as a shipping waystation and the headquarters for the Mediterranean Fleet was based there until the mid-1930s.
- 1919: Protests over the excessive price of bread. British soldiers fire on the croud and kill 4 Maltese protesters. These led later to greater autonomy for the Maltese. In Malta, this day is rememberred as the 'Sette Gungio' and is a National Day.
- 1934: English and Maltese were declared the sole official languages of Malta.
- 1939-1945: Malta played an important role during World War II, as it was near to Axis shipping lanes.
- 10 June 1940: Italy declared war.
- 11 June 1940: First air raids on Malta.
- 15 April 1942: The George Cross was awarded to Malta by the United Kingdom.
- December 1955 : A Round Table Conference was held in London, on the future of Malta.
- 14 February 1956: A referendum was held on the political future of Malta.
- 1958: The resulting talks broke down. The United Kingdom imposed direct rule.
- 21 September 1964: Maltese independence was granted. Malta has remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
- 1971: Dom Mintoff became Prime Minister again.
- 1974: Malta became a republic, with the last Governor-General, Sir Anthony Mamo, as its first President.
- 1979: The last British forces left Malta.
- 1981: In the national election, the Labour Party remained in Government not withstanding the fact that 51% of the population voted in favour of the conservative demo-christian Nationalist Party (PN).
- 1987: In an election on Malta, the Labour Party lost to the Nationalist Party (PN).
- April 2003: In a referendum, Malta's voters expressed their will to join the European Union.
- 1 May 2004 Malta became a full member of the European Union.
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