The independent republic of Malta consists of a group of islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Because of its location it has played an important role in the history of the region. Throughout history many different groups have occupied the islands in an attempt to control the entire region. The capital of Malta is Valletta.
Malta occupies an area of 122 square miles (316 square kilometers). It is located 58 miles (93 kilometers) south of Sicily. The country consists of five islands—Malta, Gozo, Comino, Cominotto, and Filfla. Of these the last two are uninhabited. Malta is the largest of the islands, making up about 78 percent of the republic's land area.
The coastline of Malta, and the other inhabited islands, has many harbors, bays, sandy beaches, and rocky coves. There are no permanent rivers or lakes on Malta Island.
There is little wild vegetation in Malta. The forest cover features a variety of trees, including the carob, fig, and chaste. The animals to be found in Malta include the hedgehog, the least weasel, the water and white-toothed shrews, and the pipistrelle and other bats. Rats, mice, and some rabbits also are found. Birds include the spectacled and Sardinian warblers, the Manx and Cory's shearwaters, and the blue rock thrush.
The people of Malta are a mixture of Italian, Arab, British, and Phoenician heritages. Almost all are Roman Catholics. The official languages are English and Maltese. More than four fifths of the population is urban.
Maltese folk traditions have evolved mainly around the festa, which is celebrated in honor of the patron saint of a village. Processions and fireworks mark the celebrations. The composer Charles Camilleri introduced folk themes into his works, and the national poet of Malta, Dun Karm, wrote verse in the Maltese language.
Until 1979, Malta's economy was dependent on a British military base and naval docks. When they closed, tourism became the major industry. The economy also depends on light industry, shipping, and farming. Wheat, barley, corn (maize), potatoes, and citrus fruits are grown on small farms on terraced hillsides. Farming accounts for a very small part of the country's earnings. Mining in Malta is limited to the production of building materials. Some offshore oil reserves have been found.
Malta imports most of its food. Textiles, garments, shoes, electrical equipment, and plastics are exported. France, Italy, Germany, and Great Britain are Malta's chief trading partners.
The islands of Malta were first settled by prehistoric peoples in about 3800 BC. In the 8th or early 7th century BC, these peoples were conquered by invaders from Carthage, who ruled over the islands until Malta came under Roman control in 218 BC. In AD 60, the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked in a bay of the island. The bay now bears his name. It is believed that he converted the inhabitants to Christianity.
Malta was later ruled by a succession of different powerful states. In 1530 the Roman Catholic church gave the island to the Knights Hospitalers (also known as the Knights of Malta). Their rule ended in June 1798, when the French emperor Napoleon seized the island. After Napoleon's defeat, a treaty returned the island to the Knights, but the Maltese protested. They chose to acknowledge the king of Great Britain as the ruler on certain conditions. By the Treaty of Paris, signed in 1814, the conditions were accepted.
During World War I (1914–18) the Maltese provided local troops and many seamen. In 1921 Malta became self-governing. Its ministers, however, shared power and responsibility with the British. In 1936 it once again became a colony. During World War II (1939–45), Malta resisted heavy bombing attacks from Germany and Italy. England's King George VI awarded the George Cross, Britain's highest civilian honor, to the citizens for their bravery. On December 13, 1974, Malta became an independent republic.
Following independence and the withdrawal of British personnel in 1979, Malta suffered from problems of employment and division between local political parties. The government sought to transform the economy into a modern one. In the late 20th century it applied for membership in the European Union. Population (2001 estimate), 381,000.
