The Ancient History Of Malta: A History of the Maltese Islands up to the Middle Ages

Uncover the rich and layered history of the Maltese Islands, a small archipelago strategically positioned at the crossroads of the Mediterranean. This comprehensive guide embarks on a journey through millennia, beginning with Malta's geological formation and the arrival of its first inhabitants around 5900 BC. It delves into the rise and fall of the extraordinary Temple Culture, responsible for some of the world's oldest freestanding stone structures, and explores the subsequent innovations and conflicts of the Bronze Age.
Continue through Malta's integration into the historical currents of the ancient world, from its role as a vital port for Phoenician and Carthaginian mariners to its long centuries as Melita Romana, including the traditional account of St. Paul's shipwreck. Experience the complexities of Byzantine rule, the profound linguistic and cultural impact of the Arab conquest, and the gradual reorientation towards Christian Europe following the Norman encounter and its integration into the Kingdom of Sicily, culminating in the medieval period leading up to 1530. This book offers an accessible narrative of the resilience, transformation, and unique cultural synthesis that define Malta's ancient past.