Why Malta's History Matters
Few places on Earth pack as much history into such a small space as Malta. This tiny Mediterranean archipelago has been continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years, serving as a strategic prize for every major civilisation from the Phoenicians to the British Empire.
What makes Malta's history truly remarkable is how visible it remains today. You can walk through the same streets the Knights of St John defended against the Ottoman siege, explore temples older than the Egyptian pyramids, and visit the underground bunkers where Winston Churchill planned Allied strategy during World War 2.
Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about the island's past, understanding Malta's history transforms any visit. Every fortification, church, and narrow street tells a story of invasion, resistance, and resilience.
For a complete overview of what to see, check our Malta Attractions Guide which covers both historical and modern highlights.
Prehistoric Era & Megalithic Temples (5200 BC - 2500 BC)
Malta's story begins with its first settlers, who arrived from Sicily around 5200 BC. These Neolithic farmers brought with them agriculture, pottery, and eventually something far more impressive: the knowledge to build monumental stone temples.
🏛️ The Megalithic Temple Builders
Between 3600 and 2500 BC, Malta's prehistoric inhabitants constructed a remarkable series of megalithic temples. These structures are now recognised as the oldest free-standing stone buildings in the world - predating both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza by nearly a thousand years.
The temples demonstrate sophisticated architectural knowledge: curved walls, corbelled roofing, and massive limestone blocks weighing up to 20 tonnes. Archaeologists believe they served religious purposes, possibly connected to fertility worship and the famous "Fat Lady" figurines found at several sites.
⚰️ The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni
Perhaps even more extraordinary than the surface temples is the Hypogeum - an underground burial complex carved entirely from solid rock around 4000 BC. Spanning three levels and reaching 10 metres below ground, it's the only known prehistoric underground temple in the world.
The site includes carved chambers, trilithon doorways, and remarkable acoustic properties that may have been used for rituals. The remains of over 7,000 individuals were discovered here, along with pottery, beads, and the famous "Sleeping Lady" figurine.
Around 2500 BC, Malta's temple culture mysteriously collapsed. The population disappeared, and the islands remained largely uninhabited for several centuries. The cause remains one of archaeology's enduring mysteries - theories range from climate change to disease to social collapse.
Phoenicians, Romans & Byzantines (800 BC - 870 AD)
After centuries of abandonment, Malta was repopulated by Phoenician traders around 800 BC. These skilled seafarers from modern-day Lebanon recognised Malta's strategic value as a stopping point on Mediterranean trade routes.
⚓ Phoenician & Carthaginian Period
The Phoenicians established trading posts and introduced their Semitic language - the direct ancestor of modern Maltese. Malta's very name likely derives from the Phoenician word "maleth" meaning "haven" or "refuge".
When Phoenicia declined, Malta came under the control of Carthage (modern Tunisia), another major Mediterranean power. The Carthaginians fortified the islands and used them as a naval base.
🏛️ Roman Malta
Rome seized Malta from Carthage in 218 BC during the Second Punic War. Under Roman rule, Malta flourished as a prosperous municipality. The Romans introduced olive cultivation, built roads, and constructed grand villas.
The most significant event of Roman Malta was the shipwreck of St Paul in 60 AD. According to tradition, the apostle Paul was shipwrecked on Malta while being transported to Rome as a prisoner. He spent three months on the island, reportedly performing miracles and converting the population to Christianity.
After the fall of Rome, Malta passed to the Byzantine Empire in 395 AD. The Byzantine period was relatively uneventful, though Christianity remained firmly established. Byzantine rule ended abruptly with the Arab conquest in 870 AD.
Arab Rule & Medieval Period (870 - 1530)
The Arab conquest of 870 AD fundamentally shaped Malta's culture in ways that endure today. The Arabs ruled for over 200 years, leaving an indelible mark on the Maltese language, architecture, and agriculture.
🕌 Arab Influence
The Arabs introduced citrus cultivation, cotton, and advanced irrigation techniques that transformed Malta's agriculture. They also established Mdina (then called Medina) as the fortified capital and built the original city walls that still stand.
Most significantly, Arabic became the dominant language, evolving over centuries into modern Maltese - the only Semitic language written in Latin script. Today, about 40% of Maltese vocabulary has Arabic roots.
⚔️ Norman & Medieval Rule
In 1091, Norman Count Roger I captured Malta from the Arabs, incorporating it into the Kingdom of Sicily. However, the substantial Muslim population remained for another 150 years.
Under various medieval rulers - Normans, Swabians, Angevins, and Aragonese - Malta remained a relatively poor backwater. The population fluctuated, pirate raids were common, and the island served mainly as a feudal estate granted to various noble families.
In 1530, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V offered Malta to the homeless Knights of St John, changing the island's destiny forever.
The Knights of Malta (1530 - 1798)
The arrival of the Knights of St John in 1530 marks the beginning of Malta's golden age. This period transformed Malta from an impoverished backwater into one of the most formidable fortress islands in the Mediterranean.
⚔️ Who Were the Knights?
The Knights of St John (also called the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta) were a Catholic military-religious order founded during the Crusades. After losing Rhodes to the Ottomans in 1522, they wandered homeless until Charles V offered them Malta in exchange for the symbolic annual tribute of one Maltese falcon.
The Knights were drawn from Europe's nobility, organised into eight "langues" (tongues) representing different regions: Provence, Auvergne, France, Italy, Aragon, Castile, Germany, and England. Each langue maintained its own auberge (hostel) and had specific responsibilities.
🏰 The Great Siege of 1565
The defining moment of Maltese history came in May 1565 when the Ottoman Empire launched a massive invasion. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent sent approximately 40,000 troops to capture Malta and eliminate the Knights once and for all.
Against this overwhelming force, Grand Master Jean de Valette commanded just 500 Knights, 6,000 soldiers, and the Maltese militia. What followed was one of history's most brutal and heroic sieges.
For nearly four months, the defenders held out against continuous bombardment, multiple assaults, and terrible casualties. The Knights lost over 250 members; thousands of Maltese died. But on 8 September (now Victory Day, a national holiday), a relief force from Sicily arrived and the Ottomans withdrew.
🏛️ Building Valletta
Determined to prevent another siege, the Knights immediately began constructing a new fortified capital on the Sciberras Peninsula. Named Valletta after the heroic Grand Master, it was designed by Europe's finest military architects.
Built on a strict grid pattern with massively fortified walls, Valletta was described as "a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen." The Knights lavished wealth on churches, palaces, and public buildings, creating the baroque masterpiece that earned Valletta UNESCO World Heritage status.
For visitor details about the capital, see our Valletta Attractions Guide.
Knight rule ended abruptly in 1798 when Napoleon Bonaparte's fleet stopped at Malta en route to Egypt. The Knights surrendered without a fight - some say due to corruption and internal divisions, others cite French sympathies among the leadership. After 268 years, the Order's rule was over.
British Colonial Period (1800 - 1964)
The French occupation lasted barely two years. In 1800, the Maltese, with British naval support, drove out the French garrison. What was intended as a temporary arrangement became 164 years of British rule.
🇬🇧 The British Fortress
Britain formally acquired Malta in 1814, recognising its supreme strategic value. Positioned at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Malta became the headquarters of the British Mediterranean Fleet and a vital coaling station on the route to India.
The British expanded the Grand Harbour facilities, built new docks, and maintained Malta as one of the world's most heavily fortified places. English became the second language alongside Italian (later Maltese), and British institutions, law, and culture were introduced.
📜 Steps Toward Self-Government
Malta gradually gained more autonomy. The 1921 Constitution granted limited self-government, though Britain retained control of defence and foreign affairs. Political tensions increased in the 1930s, particularly around the "Language Question" - whether Maltese or Italian should be the national language.
Maltese nationhood was forged in the crucible of World War 2, when the island's suffering and courage earned worldwide admiration and strengthened calls for independence.
World War 2 & The George Cross (1940 - 1943)
Malta's finest hour came during World War 2, when the island endured one of the most intensive aerial bombardments in history. The siege of Malta stands alongside the Battle of Britain as one of the war's defining defensive struggles.
💣 The Blitz
Italy declared war on Britain on 10 June 1940, and bombs fell on Malta the very next day. For the next two and a half years, Malta suffered almost continuous attack. At its peak, the island experienced 154 consecutive days and nights of bombing.
In total, Malta endured over 3,000 air raids - more bombs per square mile than anywhere else in the war. The Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica dropped over 15,000 tonnes of bombs on an island smaller than the Isle of Wight.
The population survived in underground shelters, many carved from the soft limestone. Food became desperately scarce; at times, the island came within weeks of starvation before supply convoys broke through.
✚ The George Cross
On 15 April 1942, at the height of the siege, King George VI awarded the entire island of Malta the George Cross - Britain's highest civilian honour - for "heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history."
It was the first and only time an entire nation received the award. The George Cross now appears on Malta's flag and coat of arms, a permanent symbol of the island's wartime sacrifice.
Malta's strategic importance proved decisive. The island's aircraft, submarines, and surface ships disrupted Axis supply lines to North Africa, contributing significantly to the eventual Allied victory in the Mediterranean theatre.
Independence & Modern Malta (1964 - Present)
The post-war years brought massive change. Britain's imperial role was waning, and Malta's strategic value diminished. After years of negotiation, Malta achieved independence on 21 September 1964.
🎉 Independence & Republic
Initially, Malta remained within the Commonwealth with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. In 1974, Malta became a republic, though it stayed in the Commonwealth. The last British military forces withdrew in 1979, ending nearly 180 years of British presence.
Independence Day (Jum l-Indipendenza) on 21 September is now a major national holiday, celebrated with parades, concerts, and fireworks.
🇪🇺 European Union & Today
Malta joined the European Union in 2004 after a referendum, and adopted the Euro in 2008. EU membership transformed the economy, bringing investment, tourism growth, and new opportunities.
Today, Malta is a prosperous, modern nation. Tourism, financial services, online gaming, and film production drive the economy. The population has grown to over 500,000 - remarkably dense for such a small territory - and Malta faces new challenges around development, sustainability, and preserving its extraordinary heritage.
📜 Malta Historical Timeline
Historical Sites to Visit
Malta offers an extraordinary concentration of historical sites. Here are the essential places to experience the island's past first-hand.
Prehistoric Sites
- Hagar Qim & Mnajdra - Stunning cliff-top temples with sea views (Qrendi)
- Ggantija Temples - The oldest, on Gozo; a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Tarxien Temples - Best-preserved carvings and decorations (Paola)
- Hypogeum - Underground burial complex; book weeks ahead (Paola)
For detailed temple information, see our Complete Guide to Malta's Prehistoric Temples.
Knights Period Sites
- St John's Co-Cathedral - Baroque masterpiece with Caravaggio paintings
- Grand Master's Palace - State rooms and armoury collection
- Fort St Elmo - Site of the Great Siege's fiercest fighting
- The Three Cities - Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua; original Knight settlements
- Fort St Angelo - Grand Master's headquarters during the siege
Our Valletta Attractions Guide covers all major sites in the capital.
Medieval & Colonial Sites
- Mdina - The "Silent City"; medieval walled capital
- St Paul's Catacombs - Early Christian burial site (Rabat)
- National Museum of Archaeology - Prehistoric artefacts including the "Fat Lady" (Valletta)
- Upper Barrakka Gardens - Panoramic harbour views; noon cannon firing
World War 2 Sites
- Lascaris War Rooms - Underground command centre beneath Valletta
- Malta at War Museum - Comprehensive WW2 collection (Vittoriosa)
- George Cross Island Association - Veterans' stories and memorabilia
- Public air raid shelters - Several are now open to visitors
🍽️ Refuel After Your History Tour
After exploring Malta's historical sites, discover the island's culinary heritage. Maltese cuisine reflects the same diverse influences you've just learned about - Phoenician, Arabic, Italian, and British.
Need Restaurant Recommendations?
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Download our printable Malta History Timeline with maps showing all major historical sites!
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Malta's history?
Malta has over 7,000 years of recorded human history. The earliest evidence of human settlement dates to around 5200 BC. The megalithic temples, built between 3600-2500 BC, are older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, making them among the oldest free-standing structures in the world.
Who were the Knights of Malta?
The Knights of Malta, officially the Order of St John, were a Catholic military order who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798. They built Valletta, the fortifications, and many churches. Their most famous achievement was defending Malta during the Great Siege of 1565 against the Ottoman Empire.
Why was Malta important in World War 2?
Malta's strategic position in the Mediterranean made it crucial for controlling supply routes to North Africa. The island endured intense bombing - over 3,000 air raids in two years - yet never surrendered. King George VI awarded the entire island the George Cross in 1942, which now appears on Malta's flag.
When did Malta become independent?
Malta gained independence from Britain on 21 September 1964, after 164 years of British rule. It became a republic in 1974 and joined the European Union in 2004. Independence Day (Jum l-Indipendenza) is celebrated annually as a national holiday.
What are the best historical sites to visit in Malta?
The must-visit historical sites include the megalithic temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, the Hypogeum underground burial site in Paola, Valletta's St John's Co-Cathedral and Grand Master's Palace, the fortified city of Mdina, and the Lascaris War Rooms. All sites are within easy reach of the main tourist areas.