Malta has a very rich, prehistoric past. For example, the oldest buildings in Europe are found in Malta. Built by the first civilization to live on Malta, the oldest of all the megalithic temples on the islands dates back to before 3500 BC. (The Bradshaw Foundation-- http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/malta/index.php) The first inhabitants were followed by, in order: Phoenicians (700 B.C.), Punic (600 B.C.), Carthage (400 B.C.), Rome (218 B.C.), Byzantine Empire (330), Arabs (870), Normans (1090), Knights of St. John (1530), then, Malta became a British Colony (1800), and finally a republic (1964). (MaltaHistory.org.uk)
Recent History. Recently, tourism, especially in the summer, has been becoming more and more important to Malta and helping the economy here. Another help to the economy has been trade. In 2004 Malta became a part of the EU and in 2008 adopted the use of the euro. (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/malta/history) There are two main political parties in Malta: the Malta Labour Party and Partit Nazzjonalista. The President is Edward Fenech Adami and the Prime Minister is Dr. Lawrence Gonzi. Recent issues that this government faces include topics such as tourism, unemployment, allegations of corruption and protection of heritage sights. source-EuropaWorld.com
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