Maltese people facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 680,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Malta 395,969(Maltese descent only) |
|
 Australia |
163,990 |
 United States |
40,820 (2016) |
 United Kingdom |
40,230 (Maltese-born) |
 Canada |
38,780 |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
| Roman Catholicism | |
|
The total figure is merely an estimation; sum of all the referenced populations. |
|
The Maltese people, or Maltese, are a group of people who live in Malta. Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It is made up of seven islands.
Contents
Malta's Long History
People have lived in Malta for a very long time. The first people arrived around 5200 BC from Sicily. They built amazing stone structures, called megaliths. These were built thousands of years before the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt!
Around 1000 BC, the Phoenicians took over Malta. They were great sailors and traders. They used the islands to help them explore and trade across the Mediterranean Sea. Later, the Carthaginians took control. But they were defeated by the Romans in 216 BC.
From Byzantines to Arabs
After the Romans, the Byzantines ruled Malta from the 4th to the 9th century. They were a Greek group that controlled much of the Mediterranean. For a short time, a German tribe called the Vandals also ruled the islands.
In AD 870, Arabs invaded Malta. They allowed the people to keep their Christian faith. The Arabs brought new things like citrus fruits, cotton, and better ways to move water. They didn't change the people much, but they had a big impact on the Maltese language. Many Maltese words come from Arabic.
Knights, French, and British Rule
From 1090 to 1530, Malta was part of the 'Kingdom of Sicily'. This meant that more people from Sicily moved to Malta.
In 1530, the Order of St. John came to Malta. They were a group of knights who protected Christian pilgrims. They ruled Malta for many years.
In 1798, the French army, led by Napoleon, took over Malta. But just two years later, the British helped the Maltese people get rid of the French. The Maltese were happy about this and wanted Britain to rule them. In 1814, Malta officially became a colony of the British Empire.
Becoming an Independent Nation
Malta became an independent country on September 21, 1964. This day is now called Independence Day. At first, Queen Elizabeth II was still the Queen of Malta. A Governor-General acted on her behalf.
On December 13, 1974, Malta became a republic. This day is called Republic Day. Now, the President is the head of state. Malta joined the Commonwealth, a group of countries that were once part of the British Empire.
Malta joined the European Union on May 1, 2004. Then, on January 1, 2008, it joined the Eurozone. This means Malta started using the Euro currency.
Where Did Maltese People Come From?
Scientists and historians are still trying to figure out exactly where the Maltese people came from. It's a bit tricky because Malta has been invaded and settled by many different groups over thousands of years.
Some studies suggest that many Maltese people might have ancestors from the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians were ancient traders from a region called the Levant (which includes parts of modern-day Lebanon). They traveled and settled all over the Mediterranean.
However, other studies suggest that most Maltese people might have come from Southern Italy, including Sicily and Calabria. These studies say there might be only a small link to people from the Eastern Mediterranean.
It's clear that many different groups of people have come to Malta over time. This includes people from Sicily, Aragon, Greece, and even British soldiers. All these groups have helped shape the Maltese people we see today.
Related pages
Images for kids
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This map shows how Y-DNA is spread across Europe. Maltese people have similar Y-DNA patterns to those in Southern Italy.
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Maltese women used to wear the għonnella, a traditional dress. It was a symbol of their identity and faith, but it became less common after the 1960s.
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Il-Kantilena by Pietru Caxaro is the oldest known text written in the Maltese language. It was written in the 15th century.
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This is the Child Migrants' Memorial at the Valletta Waterfront. It remembers the 310 Maltese children who moved to Australia between 1950 and 1965.
