A TIMELINE OF MALTA
By Tim Lambert
5,200 BC Stone Age farmers arrive in Malta
3,600-2,500 BC The age of building temples in Malta
800 BC The Phoenicians from Lebanon sail to Malta
400 BC The city of Carthage in North Africa rules Malta
218 BC The Romans conquer Malta
c. 60 AD The missionary Paul is shipwrecked on Malta
870 The Arabs conquer
1090 The Normans capture Malta 1266 The French capture Malta 1283 The kingdom of Aragon in Spain takes Malta 1412 The kingdom of Castile in Spain takes Malta. Later Aragon and Castile are united and Malta becomes part of the Spanish Empire. 1530 The Spanish king gives Malta to the Knights of St John 1562 The Inquisition is established in Malta 1565 The Turks lay siege to Malta but fail to capture it 1566 La Valette founds the city of Valetta 1574 The knights of St John begin building the Sacra Infermeria in Valetta 1634 New fortifications are built across the peninsula south of Valetta. They are designed by Pietro Paolo Floriani. 1693 Malta is badly damaged by an earthquake 1798 The French land in Malta 1800 The French surrender to the British 1835 A Council of Government made up of prominent Maltese is formed to advise the British governor 1849 The Maltese are allowed to elect some representatives 1883 A railway opens from Valetta to Mdina 1887 The majority of members of the Council of Government are elected 1919 The Maltese riot 1921 Malta is given a new constitution and Joseph Howard becomes the first prime minister 1933 The constitution is revoked 1940 The Italians bomb Malta 1942 George VI awards the people of Malta the George Cross 1947 Malta is awarded another constitution 1964 Malta becomes independent 1974 Malta becomes a republic 1979 The last British servicemen leave Malta 1987 The Nationalist Party take power 2004 Malta joins the EU 2008 Malta joins the Euro