Malta boasts its cultural richness, not only from its friendly and over-welcoming people but from its centuries-old history, culture and megalithic sites which are unique in this world. Megaliths, medieval dungeons, Calypso's Cave, the world famous Hypogeum selected as a place of World Heritage by UNESCO are but a few. The narrow meandering streets of the towns and villages are crowded with Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces.

As the countryside is dotted with the oldest known human structures in the world, the Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum.

The strategic position of Malta, Gozo and Comino has made the Maltese islands play a crucial role in the making of the most historical events. Involved in Malta's history are the Stone-Age and Bronze-Age people, Romans and Phoenicians, Arabs, Normans and Carthaginians, Castilians, Knights of St. John, French and British; from whom Malta became independent in 1964. Napoleon Bonaparte did extensive damage in an only six-day occupation; and Malta stood firm against Hitler despite massive bombing during World War II, deservedly earning the nation the George Cross medal from King George VI (April 1942) and depicting it on the left hand corner of the flag.

It is believed that the first settlers in Malta, inhabited the island some 4500 years BC from Sicily. Around 3600BC they started building large temples using obsidians and flint to make tools. These buidings are the oldest megalithic structures know to man and estimated to be one thousand years older than the pyramids at Giza, predating England's Stonehenge, the palaces of Crete and King Solomon's Temple. The ruins of the Neolithic Temples at Hagar Qim are among the most imposing of the country's 30 prehistoric sites which date from about 3600 to 3200 BC.

Around 1000 BC the Phoenicians settled in Malta and stayed on for around 320 years. The Phoenicians introduced glass making and weaving and built temples were they could worship their gods. During the Punic Wars, Malta became part of the Roman Empire around 218BC and remained part of this empire till 535 AD.

St. Paul, the Apostle, was on his was way to Rome as a prisoner, when he was shipwrecked on the island in 60 AD. During his three month stay, St. Paul introduced Christianity to the people, making the Maltese one of the oldest Christian people in the world.

In 535 AD Malta, became part of the Byzantine Empire until the Arabs took over in 870 AD. Malta remained Muslim until the arrival of the Normans, who invaded and took over the island in 1090. Roman Catholicism was re-established and the Norman period, under the rule of Count Roger lasted till 1194. Malta's rule fell under a series of different rulers from this period till 1530, when the Order of St. John came to Malta.

Malta was becoming of supreme strategic importance for the control of the Mediterranean against the alarming growth of Muslim power. In 1547 Malta and Gozo, were unexpectedly attacked by the Turks and they took many prisoners. The attack that followed in 1551 was more serious, for they ransacked Gozo and made off with 5000 prisoners. Following this, the Order was convinced that they must prepare the defences of the island for a bigger invasion. In 1565, The Great Siege of Malta started which lasted for four months and when it finally ended on the 7th September, many knights and Maltese had lost their lives, as did many Turks.

It was after the siege that Grand Master Jean de la Valette, who led the Order throughout the siege, called upon them to build the fortified city of Valletta. In the years that followed, Valletta became an impregnable fortress, housing imposing palaces and churches. It also became a flourishing centre for trade and learning. Successive Grandmasters initiated grand projects, such as the building of many fortifications, aqueducts and a university, where the teaching of anatomy and surgery took place.

In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Malta causing immense destruction and he expelled the Order of St. John. French rule in Malta lasted only two years. The Maltese none too glad to be under the French rule, rebelled and with the help of the British, they were finally ousted in 1800.

From then on, Malta was once again found in the heart of all the activity, including The Crimean War (1854-56), World War I, and World War II. During World War II, for two and a half years, Malta became the most bombed place on earth with never-ending air raids. The bravery, heroism and sacrifice of its people were recognised when King George VI awarded the Maltese people the George Cross Medal.

On 21 September 1964, Malta became a sovereign and independent nation within the Commonwealth. Ten years later, Parliament enacted important changes to the constitution and on the 13th December 1974, Malta was declared a Republic within the Commonwealth and appointed Sir Anthony Mamo as the first Maltese President of the Republic of Malta. Five years later, the last of the British troops on the island left Malta and on 31 March 1979 the Union Jack was finally lowered. Malta had at last reached the goal for which its people had striven for many centuries - the ability to make decisions on their own for their own good and the good of their own people, without any interference from outside powers. Malta is represented at the United Nations, takes an active part in European affairs and has finally taken its rightful place amongst the nations of the world.

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