TIME LINE

 

5000 BC : First known inhabitants come from Sicily.
4000 - 3000 BC: The megalithic temples are built.
700 - 218 BC : Phoenician And Carthaginian periods.
218 BC : Malta forms part of the Roman Republic.
60 AD : St Paul is Shipwrecked on the island and preaches Christianity.
395 - 870 : Byzantine rule.
870: The Arab invation.
1090 - 1530 : Norman, Swabian, Angevin and Aragonese rule.
1530: Charles V cedes the island of Malta to the Order of St John of Jerusalem.
1565: The Great Siege. The Ottomans attacke the Islands.
They are defeated by the Knights. The Ottoman expansion in the Mediterranean is halted.
1566-1571: The building of Valletta, the new capital.
17th Century : Malta is under the Order of St John. The island prospers.
1798: Napoleon Bonaparte stops here on his way ot Egypt and the Order capitulates.
1800-1964: Malta becomes a British colony. 164 years of British rule.
1940-1942: Malta plays a key role in the Second World War.
It is constantly attacked, but never defeated.
1947: Internal self-government is restored. Administration is the hands of a Govenor General.
1964: Malta gains independence.
1974: Malta becomes a Republic. The first Maltese President takes office.
1 May 2004 Malta became a full member of the European Union

 

Right Click  Heritage Malta 

 

The Sleeping Lady
A small clay statuette from the Prehistoric Past of Malta

One of the most precious items that there is exhibited at the
National Museum of Archaeology,
in Valletta, is the famous Sleeping Lady.
A small statuette which was discovered at the underground
 Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
is full of details which make its even more interesting to look at.
Believed to be completed around 5000 years ago,
the statue is showing the corpulent figure of a female,
reclining on a bed, and she seems to be in deep sleep.
She is shown on a well constructed bed,
with stumps acting as legs,
and traverses indicating that during that time people
 had a good sense of construction.
Her head is resting on a pillow whilst
she is clutching the same pillow with the other hand.
The dress she is wearing is decorated in various ways.
There are the pleats on the lower hem
and decorated designs are clearly seen on the skirt.
She is not covering her breast.
It has been suggested that she could have had some
 buttons on the back of her skirt.
 Discovered in an underground complex,
it has been suggested that this could
be a priestess in the act of interpreting dreams of the faithful.
Whatever the reason behind such a statue,
it is still an exceptional work of art of the Prehistory.

 Independent Malta (1964-to date)


1979 964 "Innu Malti" recognized as the national anthem. Referendum on Independence Constitution. Malta
          granted independence, becoming a sovereign nation within the British Commonwealth.
1968    Central Bank established.
1970    Malta enters an Association agreement with the European Economic Community (EEC), today known as the European Union (EU).
1971    Dom Mintoff becomes Prime Minister after Malta Labour PArty wins general election in June. Sir Anthony Mamo becomes the first Maltese national to be named Governor               General. He is the last one for the Maltese Islands.
1972    Military base agreement signed by Malta, the United Kingdom and other NATO nations.
        The King's Own Malta Regiment disbanded.
 Change to decimal monetary system.
 Government bars the U.S. Naval Forces from using Malta as a liberty port.
1973   Formation of Air Malta.
1974   Malta becomes a Republic, remaining in the Commonwealth. Sir Anthony Mamo elected first
 President.
 Government increases its control over the University.
1975   Barclays Bank International, Ltd. taken over to become Mid-Med Bank.
1976   Dr. Anton Buttigieg becomes second President.
 Mintoff confirmed as {Prime Minister after Malta Labour Party is obtains win in general election
1977  Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami elected leader of the Nationalist Party.
1979  Military base agreement terminated. British forces leave. First Freedom Day celebrated on the 31st of March.
1981   The Malta Labour Party wins the general election by its majority of seats in Parliament, but the Opposition Nationalist Party has the absolute majority of votes. The  Nationalist Party begins a protest campaign against the unjust election result.
1982   Agatha Barbara becomes third, and first female, President of Malta.
1984   Dr. Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici becomes Prime Minister after the resignation of Prime Minister Dom Mintoff.
 Stand-off between the government and teachers in a seven-week strike following government's attempt to make private schooling free of charge.
1987   Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami becomes Prime Minister following a Nationalist victory in the May general election.
1988   Freeport Corporation set-up.
1989   First gathering of Knights of St. John in Malta since their departure in 1798.
 U.S.-Soviet Summit meets in Malta to end the Cold War.
 Dr. Vincent Tabone elected fourth President.
1990   Government formally applies for full membership in the European Community.
 Pope John Paul II makes the first Papal visit in Malta.
 Prof. Guido De Marco elected President of 45th Annual UN General Assembly.
1991   Malta Cable Television given license as the first cable tv operator in Malta.
 Two Vatican Agreements between the Malta Government and the Holy See signed in Rome.
 New Delimara Power Station begins operations.
1992   New Malta International Airport terminal inaugurated.
 Nationalist Party wins election. Dr. Alfred Sant elected Leader of the Malta Labour Party as Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici steps down following his party's defeat.
 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in Malta for the 50th Anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross.
 50th Anniversary of Operation Pedestal, popularly known as the 'Santa Marija Convoy'  celebrated. Stock Exchange opened.
 Maritime Museum opened in Vittoriosa.
1993   The European Union's first report on Malta says it is eligible for EU membership.
 First University degree courses offered in Gozo.
 Government signs the Inter-     national Convention banning the use of chemical weapons.
 The Fifth Games of the Small States of Europe held in Malta. First elections for Local Councils held.
1994   Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici elected fifth President.
1996   Malta Labour Party wins the elections held in October. Dr. Alfred sworn in as Prime Minister of Malta.
1997   Malta's application to join the EU is 'frozen' (suspended) but not withdrawn in accordance with the MLP's policy. MLP government instead seeks industrial free trade
 zone and closer relations to EU but not membership.
1998   Dr. Alfred Sant calls for a snap election following a vote of no-confidence. Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami is  elected Prime Minister after the Nationalist Party wins the  election.
1999   Prof. Guido de Marco appointed President of Malta
 Cont:

Before 5000  Arrival of man in Malta.
Circa 3400  Introduction of copper.
Circa 3200  Building of megalithic temples, the world's oldest free standing buildings.
Circa 2000  First invasion of bronze-using people.
Circa 1400  Second invasion of bronze-using people.
Circa 900-800  The Iron Age.
Circa 700  Greek influence in area on which Valletta now stands.
Circa 800-480  Phoenician colonization.
Circa 480-218  Carthaginian domination.
264-241  First Punic War.
221-202  Second Punic War.
218  Malta incorporated in Republic of Rome.
150-146  Third Punic War.
41  The Maltese are allowed municipal privileges.
60  Shipwreck of St Paul. Introduction of Christianity.
117-138  Islands made Municipalities during reign of Hadrian.
395  Final division of Roman Empire.
395-870  Byzantine domination. It is a moot point whether Malta was occupied by the Vandals in 454 and by the Goths in 464. According to some historians, Belisarius restored the Islands to the Byzantine Empire in 533.
870  Invasion of Malta by Aghlobite Arabs.
1048  Byzantine bid to recapture the Islands.
1090  Norman invasion of Malta.
1122  Uprising of the Arabs.
1144  Byzantines again attempt to recapture the Islands.
1154  Bishops of Malta under the jurisdiction of the See of Palermo.
1194-1266  Swabians (Germans).
1266-1283  Angevins (French).
1283-1530  Aragonese (Spanish).
1350  Establishment of Maltese nobility by King Ludwig of Sicily.
1350-1357  First Incorporation of Islands in Royal Domain.
1397-1420  Second Incorporation of Islands in Royal Domain.
1397  Establishment of Università (Local Government).
1425  Revolt against Don Gonsalvo Monroy.
1429  Saracens from Tunis try to capture Malta.
1428-1530  Third (and final) Incorporation of Islands in Royal Domain.
1485  Death of Peter Caxaro, author of Cantilena, possibly earliest evidence of written Maltese.
1530  Order of St John takes formal possession of the Islands.
1535  First known date of celebration of Carnival in Malta.
1561  Holy Inquisition officially established in Malta.
1565  Great Siege.
1566  Founding of Valletta.
1578  Inauguration of St John's Co-Cathedral.
1593  Inauguration of Jesuits College (Collegium MelitenseSocietatis Jesu).
1676  Foundation of School of Anatomy and Surgery at the Sacra Infermeria.
1768  Jesuits expelled from Malta.
1775  Uprising of the Priests.
1784  Promulgation of the Diritto Municipale by Grand Master De Rohan.
1798  The French, under Napoleon, occupy Malta. Abolition of the Inquisition. Uprising of the Maltese against the French.
1799  Britain takes Malta under its protection in the name of the King of the Two Sicilies.
1800  The French capitulate, Major General H. Pigot instructed to place Malta under the protection of the British Crown.
1802  Peace of Amiens by which Malta was to have been returned to the Order of St John. Declaration of Rights.
1813  The Bathurst Constitution. First issue of Gazzetta del Governo di Malta ? changed, in 1816, to Malta Government Gazette.
1814  Treaty of Paris by which Malta becomes a British Crown Colony.
1819  
1828  Proclamation regulating State-Church relations.
1831  See of Malta independent of See of Palermo.
1834  Opening of Malta Government Savings Bank.
1835  First Council of Government.
1839  Abolition of Press censorship and introduction of law of libel.
1840  Council of Government with elected members.
1854  Publication of "Storia di Malta" by Gio. Antonio Vassallo.
1869  Opening of Suez Canal.
1881  Executive Council - an entirely official body.
1887  The Strickland-Mizzi Constitution.
1903  Council of Government - largely a return to the 1840 Constitution.
1912  Dun Karm, the National Poet, writes his first poem in Maltese.
1914-1918  World War I.
1919  Sette Giugno riots.
1921  The Amery-Milner Constitution granting Self-Government. Opening of first Malta Parliament.
1930  Constitution suspended.
1932  Constitution restored.
1933  Constitution withdrawn. Crown Colony Government as in 1813.
1936  Constitution providing for nominated members to Executive Council.
1939  Macdonald Constitution: Council of Government to be elected. Lord Strickland's Constitutional Party returned.
1939-1945  World War II.
1940  First air raids on Malta.
1942  Award of George Cross to Malta following the full onslaught of the Axis powers.
1946  National Assembly resulting in 1947 Constitution.
1947  Restoration of Self-Government.
1958  The Governor takes over direct administration of the Islands.
1959  Interim Constitution providing for Executive Council.
1961  Blood Constitution published by Order-in-Council. This again provided for a measure of self-government for the "State" of Malta.
1961  Establishment of the Gozo Local Government system.
1964  Malta becomes a Sovereign and Independent state within the Commonwealth. Malta joins the United Nations.
1965  Malta joins the Council of Europe.
1968  Establishment of the Central Bank of Malta. Establishment of the Malta Development Corporation.
1970  Malta becomes an Associate Member of the European Community.
1972  Military Base Agreement with Britain and other N.A.T.O. countries.
1973  Abolition of Gozo Local Government system.
1974  Malta becomes a Republic; Sir Anthony Mamo, elected first President.
1976  Establishment of the Regional Oil Combating Centre (ROCC) on Manoel Island as a joint IMO/UNEP project; now known as the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC).
1979  Termination of Military Base Agreement.
1987  Parliament adopts the European Convention of Human Rights as part of Malta's laws.
1988  United Nations opens the International Institute on Aging in Valletta.
1988  IMO - International Maritime Law Institute inaugurated at the University of Malta.
1989  Establishment of the Malta International Business Authority (now the Malta Financial Services Centre), the Malta Export Trade Corporation and the Malta Freeport Corporation.
1990  Malta applies for full membership of the European Community.
1991  Establishment of the Malta Maritime Authority.
1993  Reintroduction of Local Government in the Maltese Islands.
1995  The European Union decides that membership negotiations with Malta will start six months after its 1996 Inter-Governmental Conference.
1996  Malta's application for full membership of the European Community temporarily frozen.
1997  Euro Med Conference held in Malta.
1998  Malta's application for full membership of the European Community reactivated.
1999  The European Union at the Helsinki Summit rules that Malta could begin full negotiations for full membership in February 2000.
2000  Negotiations for European Union membership formally opened with Malta under the Portuguese Presidency on 15th February 2000.
2002  Negotiations for European Union membership formally concluded with Malta under the Danish Presidency on 13th December 2002 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
2003    Referendum held on the 8th of March on the question of whether Malta should become a member of the European Union in the subsequent enlargement of 1st May 2004.  143,094 votes cast in favour and 123,628 against.
2003    The Treaty of Accession to the European Union signed by the Prime Minister Dr. Edward Fenech Adami and the Foreign Minister Dr. Joe Borg on the 16th of April 2003.
2004    Malta became a member of the European Union as from 1st May 2004.