Malte

Malta

Summary :

Introduction 1- Languages and History 2- Landscap 3- Malta today Conclude

Introduction

Malta is often considered an island but it is above all a European country. Very well known as a tourist destination for young people who come to party, this country is full of history that we discover when we walke through its towns and countryside.

The languages ​​spoken reflect its history. Its landscape is very contrasted. Its evolution current situation reflects the current issues.

1- Languages and History

The Maltais language is not well know. However, it teaches us a lot about the history of Malta, which was under Arab, Italian and English domination. The Arabs were present on the Maltese archipelago around 800 JB. It was in these Mediterranean islands that the bilingual inscription in Greek and Phoenician was discovered which made it possible to decipher Phoenician. The Roman people was dominated Malta from 218 BC. BC to 870. Despite a Roman presence lasting a millennium, historians doubt that Malta was entirely Romanized. Did they speak Greek, Punic, Phoenician, and perhaps Latin too? The only certainty is that in 1090 the Maltese spoke a variety of Arabic. Today, it is a highly evolved form of Maghrebi Arabic, which has become Maltese, which is used by four hundred thousand inhabitants of the archipelago. During its history, Malta has been successively dominated by the Normans, the Swabians, the Angevins, the Aragonese, the Castilians, before the Kingdom of Sicily, the French and finally the British. Geographic center of the Mediterranean, offering protecteed natural ports, the archipelago is also at the center of rivalries between Muslims and Christians. It is an important commercial crossroads, an almost obligatory passage on the Silk Road. Maltese and English language gained strength during the British presence.

The dialect of Valletta and neighboring towns, the influence of Arabic was quite clear, due to the largenumber of Muslim prisoners. Maltese and English language gained strength during the British presence. London finaly decides imposing radical mesures: suppression of Italian as an official and administrative language, adoption of Maltese and English as official langages in 1933, adoption in 1934 of an official Maltese alphabet in Latin characters and compulsory teaching of Maltese at school the same year. At independence, on September 21, 1964, Maltese became, with English, the official language of the young republic whose capital was Valletta, but English was the only national language. On May 1, 2004, Maltese also became one of the official languages of the European Union. Aujourd'hui, les Maltais sont presque tous bilinques maltais-anglais, et très souvent aussi, trilinques maltais-anglais-italien. While the influence of English on Maltese is growing, it does not prevent the language from continuing to live on, nor literature written in Maltese from continuing to flourish.

2- Landscape

2- Landscape :

Located about a hundred kilometers south of Sicily and 350 km from the coasts of Tunisia and Libya, this is an archipelago in the Mediterranean where geography largely explains its history. The Maltese archipelago has two main islands: Malta and Gozo. Between them are the islands of Comino and Cominotto, and to the south the tiny Ilot Filfla. Seen from the sky, the island of Malta looks like a large arid rock in gray and moderate tones, surrounded by a turquoise sea. Neither river, mountain or forest. The landscape presents a relief of limestone origin with jagged coasts alternating cliffs and bays on the North East, which serve as refuge for boats. The main island is 27 km long and 14 km wide. The region around Valletta surprise for the density of its urban development and housing. The towns follow on from each other and touch. Seen from the air, it's nothing more than a vast conurbation. It’s one of the most densely populated regions in Europe! 1,500 inhabitants/km! That's almost 4 times more than Belgium. No high-rise buildings, just a compact urban fabric of small blocks of flats and detached houses. The central and western part offers a slightly less flat and slightly greener landscape. Some hills appear cut by small valleys with groves. The fields are sometimes terraced and enclosed by dry stone walls. Oleander hedges and fig trees line the small country lanes, softening the aridity of this overheated landscape with their color. It is also in this part of the island that we find the only green spot: the pine forest and the Buskett gardens. More bucolic, the island of Gozo is a land of farmers and fishermen, and the “nature” complement of Malta. The field seems less rough. The island is more fertile. The environment is a recent concern of the Maltese government. Its protection was considered incompatible with the economic development of the island.

With one of the highest population densities in the world, particularly in high season, we must meet an increased need for drinking water and energy. Malta is one of the driest countries in the world. And the little water present win groundwater is polluted by seawater which infiltrates near the coast or by wastewater. Seawater desalination plants and power plants (to desalinate water) have been set up on the coast but, if we add port activity and the occupation of the coastline by tourist infrastructures, so we have an overexploitation of the environment and degradation of the terrestrial and marine environment. Another option was retained: the treatment of wastewater to irrigate the fields. For wildlife, there are nature reserves, closed to visitors in summer. The State has launched a sustainable development program in Gozo, which takes different axes: better water and waste management, education, energy, agriculture and tourism, etc. For agriculture, in a country which has opted for the use of pesticides, it is today difficult to find organic products in the archipelago. However, more and more farmers are using natural fertilizers.

3- Malta today

The country's economic growth is among the highest in the euro zone, with GDP growth reaching 5.6% in 2023, the highest among EU member states. Malta has no mineral or energy reserves and is therefore entirely dependent on imports in these areas. Its economy is mainly based on manufacturing, notably microchips and pharmaceuticals.

Malta was elected on June 9, 2022 as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2023-2024 biennium. Its priorities are Libya, the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda, children in armed conflict and ocean protection.

Conclude :

Visiting Malta provides a lot of knowledge about Mediterranean and European history. Its landscapes are suitable for everyone, from the urban, rural, desert, tourist, arid and paradisiacal turquoise water diversity. Malta meets strong current challenges to allow it to remain a destination where life is good and where nature will find its place alongside its economy.

Zélonie et Oumy

Source :

- https://www.routard.com/fr/guide/a/geographie/europe/malte - https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2007/10/VANHOVE/15246 - google image - photo personnelle

The Maltese cross is white and has 4 branches and 8 points. The points are said to symbolise the 8 Beatitudes mentioned by Christ in his Sermon on the Mount: truth, faith, repentance, humility, justice, charity, sincerity and resistance to persecution.

The cross was adopted on the flag in 1964, the date of independence within the Commonwealth.

The Normans invented the cross on the Maltese flag