Malta is a small island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Malta has a rich history with some of the world's oldest free-standing architecture. The Phoenicians and the Carthaginians both built ports on the island. Later, the island became part of the Roman Empire. It is also famous as the place where Saint Paul from the Bible was shipwrecked.
The island continued to change hands over the centuries. In 533 AD it became part of the Byzantine Empire and then, in 870, it was taken over by the Arabs. In 1090, Count Roger of Normandy drove out the Arabs and the Normans took control.
In 1530 Charles V gave the island to the Knights of St. John. They became known as the Knights of Malta. The Knights of Malta built up the island including towns, forts, and churches. They maintained control until Napoleon and the French arrived in 1798. With the help of the British, the people of Malta were able to expel the French in 1800. They joined the British Empire in 1814.
Malta played an important role as a naval and military base during both world wars. In 1964 Malta became an independent nation and joined the European Union in 2004.
The Geography of Malta
Total Size: 316 square km
Size Comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
