In its long and turbulent history, the diminutive island nation of Malta has often assumed an importance out of all proportion to its size. It has served as a stepping stone between Europe and Africa, a policeman of the central Mediterranean sea lanes, a guardian of imperial trade routes and a launching pad for invasions.

When Malta gained its independence in 1964 it was the first time since prehistory that the islands had been ruled by the native Maltese, and not by some outside power. Since early in the 1st millennium BC Malta has been occupied successively by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, the Knights of St John, the French and the British, yet in all this time its people have managed to preserve a distinctive identity and a strong sense of continuity with the past. The luzzu, the traditional Maltese fishing boat, still carries the watchful 'Eye of Osiris' on its bow, a custom thought to date back more than 2500 years.

Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Over the last 15 years, the island has become a major freight transhipment point, financial center, and tourist destination. It is an official candidate for EU membership.