The Story Of Malta By Brian Blouet

The Maltese Islands occupy only about 120 square miles but they are situated in the important channel which links the east and west basins of the Mediterranean. The strategic position of the islands has made them attractive to powers wishing to make their influence felt in the central Mediterranean; and the archipelago has, for long periods of time, been dominated by peoples coming from other lands. As a result the Maltese have had an eventful history and have been brought into contact with many cultural and economic forces which have contributed to the development of the Maltese way of life and the landscape of the islands. Against a background of the physical environment Dr Blouet outlines events in prehistory, classical times and the medieval period. Many aspects of the economic and social development of the islands under the crusading Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1530 – 1798) and the British (1800 – 1964) are treated in detail. The military history of the islands is not neglected and there are chapters on the great sieges of 1565 and 1940 – 1942. Some new material is presented on the siege of 1565 and the generally accepted account of events is questioned. The story comes up to date with self-government and independence