Malta

History of Malta
Malta Chronology
Malta
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Malta Chronology

Ancient Malta
5000 BC First settlers appeared on the island.
2000-1400 BC Bronze-using tribes lived in Malta.
800-480 BC Phoenician rule over the island.
700-600 BC Greek influence in Malta.
480-218 BC Carthaginian control over Malta.
264-146  BC Punic Wars between Roman Empire and Carthage.
218 BC Malta fell under Roman rule during the 2nd Punic War.
60 AD St Paul the Apostle shipwrecked in Malta.
395-870 Byzantine rule.
870-1090 Arabian rule over Malta.
1091-1194 Malta fell under Norman rule.
12th-18th Century: Occupations of Malta
1154-1205 Genoese rulers had influence over Malta.
1266-1283 During the Angevin rule in Malta, the administration system was created.
1283-1412 Aragonese rule over the island.
1412-1530 During this period the Aragonesians joined with the Castilians to rule Malta.
1530 Maltese Nobility appeared.
1561 The Inquisition was established in Malta to judge the heretics.
1565 This was the year of the Great Siege when the Turks besieged Malta but the knights helped it be freed.
1566 The capital city of Valetta was established and named after Knights of Malta's Grand Master.
1571 At the Battle of Lepanto the Christians won over the Turks.
1592 The Jesuits College in Malta was founded and later became the Malta University.
1676 School of Anatomy and Surgery was established at the Sacred Infirmary, forming the Knight's hospital in the city of Valletta.
1784  Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, De Rohan created Malta's legal code.
1798 A French army commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte attacted Malta on its way to Egypt. The inquisition was abolished and the knights were driven away. Malta rebelled against the French occupation and a two-year siege ensued.
19th-20th Century British Rule
1800 The French gave up and freed Malta. With their capitulation a British rule over Malta began.
1835 The first Council of Government was assembled under British rule.
1839 The St Paul Anglican Cathedral was started to be built.
1869 The Suez Canal was opened.
1881 The Anglo-Egyptian Bank was founded.
1883 The railroad began functioning in Malta.
1888 The construction of the Royal Opera House was under way.
1914-1918 Although Malta did not fight in the war, it helped heal the wounded.
1919 The British allowed Malta to self-govern itself under Britain's rule.
1921 The first Maltese parliament opened.
1934 Malti and English became official languages together.
1940 The Italians dropped bombs on Malta during World War II.
1945 Churchill and Roosevelt met in Malta before the Yalta Conference with Stalin.
Post World War Malta
1956 Malta held a referendum to integrate with Britain.
1964 Innu Malti' became the national anthem. Malta gained independence within the British Commonwealth.
1968 The Central Maltese Bank was established.
1970 Malta agrees with the EU for an association.
1973 Air Malta was established.
1974 Malta becomes a Republic in the Commonwealth. Sir Anthony Memo became its first president.
1982 Agatha Barbara became the first female president of Malta.
1989 The knights gathered in Malta for the first time after their expulsion in 1798. The U.S. and Soviet representatives met in Malta and ended the Cold War.
Present Day Malta
1990 Pope John Paul II visits Malta for the first time.
1992 Maritime Museum opened in Vittoriosa, Malta.
1993 The EU declares Malta is eligible for European Union membership.
1997 Malta's application for the EU is frozen for the moment.
1999 Professor Guido the Marco becomes new president of Malta.
2002 EU invites Malta to join.
2004 Malta becomes an EU member.
2007 Malta agrees to accept the Euro in 2008.