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 Man has inhabited the Maltese Islands since Neolithic times. The first Maltese were extremely sophisticated and evidence of their civilization is still visible today. Temples in which they worshipped their gods at Hagar Qim and Mnajdra are still remarkably well preserved and are said to be the oldest monuments on earth, even outdating the pyramids of ancient Egypt. The Neolithic period was followed by the Bronze Age and this, by the Phoenicians. These semitic people from the Eastern Mediterranean colonised the Islands for a long period. They cast the die for Malta's sea-faring and merchant heritage and, much more importantly, they laid down the foundations of Malta's language and alphabet.
The Phoenicians were followed by the Romans. It was during the Roman occupation that Saint Paul was shipwrecked on Malta. It is said that Saint Paul brought Christianity to the Islands.
The Roman era was superseded by a period of Arab rule who arrived in Malta around 870 A.D., followed by the Normans who came some 200 years later, the Swabians, Angevines, Aragonese and Catellians… until 1530 the Maltese Islands were given as a gift by the King of Spain to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem who contributed toward the architecture and made good use of our limestone.
Having been driven from their base in Rhodes by the all-conquering Ottoman army, the Knights' presence in Malta made these islands the obvious targets for the rampaging Turks. Thus, in 1565 … a date etched in the minds of the Maltese … the first Great Siege of Malta took place. The Knights' Grand Master La Vallette, with just six hundred Knights and twelve thousand Maltese men, women and children defeated and eventually drove off the Turkish invasion force of some thirty-eight thousand men. The Knights ruled Malta for two hundred and sixty eight years. They were eventually expelled by the French under Napoleon Bonaparte who arrived in Malta in 1798 who made no fair contribution towards the architectural heritage like the Knights did. The French however, were soon themselves driven out by the British under Admiral Lord Nelson. Britain administered the Maltese Islands for some 150 years and made little contribution towards the architecture on the island. They remained here up until Malta gained Independence in 1964. During the Second World War Malta endured its other Great Siege but, once more the Islands and the people survived. King George VI, in recognition of the contribution and fortitude of the Maltese people, awarded the Island the George Cross. This cross now adorns the national flag of red and white.
The islands of Malta and Gozo are now an Independent Republic within the Commonwealth and have also become members of the European Union since 1st May 2004.
EU membership is now a reality and there is no doubt that 1st May 2004 will always be remembered as a milestone in Malta’s history. It is an event that will affect many generations. Now that Malta has joined, we need to come to terms with the international spectrum of such a large trading block. Malta has to become an attraction for high value investment and is proactive in the involvement of EU institutions to petition effectively on issues that will affect the country.
EU membership is promising to the Maltese Economy in that the openness will avail the country to take part in catching up with some of the most economically and socially advanced countries.
 
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