As one looks over the history of the Maltese Islands, one major factor stands out. The people of these Islands have, for many thousands of years, been ruled by others. They have never been masters of their own destiny.

As the title suggests, this book gives us a concise overview of the various historical periods of Malta’s chequered and intriguing history in a light, readable style. Taking this approach, we survey each period comprehensively and provide an analysis of the most important contributions of that particular era to the overall conduct of the nation.