Brief History
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Malta has some 7000 years of history: Stone-age men built pre-historic temples, being older than Stonehenge or even the great pyramids of Egypt. The Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Aragon, Knights of St. John’s, French and British have all left their traces on the island whether on the language, culture, architecture or religion. St. Paul was shipwrecked in Malta on his way to Rome and also Napoleon Bonaparte spent seven days in Malta before continuing his trip to Egypt. Being one of the last British colonies to get her Independence in 1964, Malta became a Republic in 1974 and in 1979 the last British troops were withdrawn from the island. |  |
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The language is Semetic: 80% Arabic and 20% roman. The alphabet is roman and almost everybody speaks good English since it is compulsory language, taught at schools from the age of five. A European culture with Moorish style buildings, built of the local globegerina limestone, which is very easy to carve into arches and balustrades. Valletta the capital city was built by ‘Gentlemen for Gentlemen.’ Mdina the old capital city, besides being a fortified town, is a city of narrow streets, doors and palaces. One should also mention the fishing villages with the characteristic fishing boat – in Maltese known as “dghajsa”. |
