Malta was a colony of Great Britain for almost 150 years until the country gained its independence on 21 September 1964. After more than a decade, Malta became a democracy. The country gained membership into the European Union in May 2004.
Before the arrival of the British, many were attracted to the shores of Malta (because of its strategic location in the Mediterranean) like the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders and the French. But the biggest influence came from the Knights of St. John, who reigned over the island from 1530 until the UK took possession of Malta in 1814.
The country has a rich heritage and history with evidence of human habitation going as far back as the Neolithic era. The Maltese are a race that takes pride in their identity and culture.
Malta is the EU’s smallest nation in terms of population and area. It is an archipelago of around seven islands (of which only Malta, Gozo and Comino are inhabited) in the Mediterranean Sea, with Sicily in the north, Tunisia in the west and Libya in the south. Malta has a mostly low and rocky terrain, with numerous bays and cliffs dotting its coastline to form natural harbors. The highest point of the land is Ta’ Dmejrek at 250 m.
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