Malta lies in the central Mediterranean Sea some 60 miles south of Sicily
and 180 miles east of Tunisia on the northern coast of Africa. Its locality
explains why it has some time or another been under the control of the
Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Arabs. In 1530 the island was
given over to the Knights Hospitallers (the Knights of King John) who
established a Christian stronghold there. In 1815 the island became a Crown
Colony following a plea for protection by the Maltese people after Napoleon
had taken the island. The Maltese resisted French rule, however, and offered
control to Britain, becoming part of the United Kingdom in 1814. The island
was awarded the George Cross for gallantry in 1942 after resisting heavy
aerial bombardments. The island eventually gained independence in 1964.
Roman Catholicism is the main religion and Maltese the official language.
However, English is used in certain administrative matters.