For this blog project, I wanted to look into the aspects of Maltese history that truly define the island and its culture, particularly in ways that still persist today. Arguably the most visible reminder of Malta’s history are the physical fortifications that continue to dominate the shoreline of Valletta’s Grand Harbor. Throughout the island’s history, its importance as a strategic naval base and as a heavily fortified port reappear again and again as reasons why Malta is relevant to the wider historical narrative.
Starting as far back as the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage in the third century BCE, historical accounts place Malta as an important strategic prize, and ruins near the modern city of Mdina indicate that forts and walled cities have existed on the island since then — more than 2000 years ago. Through Byzantine, Arab, and Norman rule, the rulers of Malta continued to fortify the cities and natural harbors of the entire archipelago until the Knights Hospitaller finished the massive and dominating system of forts around the Grand Harbor that still exist today in the 16th century. The Great Siege of Malta in 1565 revolved around these forts and was a decisive engagement in the centuries-long struggle between Christian and Muslim factions for control of the Mediterranean.
As we drove into Valletta yesterday, I was struck by how much I was surprised by the formidable size and construction of the system of forts along the waterfront. I had previously read about how fortified the harbor is, but I instinctively felt that anyone trying to directly assault those forts would be in for an almost definitive death sentence. In my future engagement with Maltese history, I hope to learn more about how people in Malta view the island’s history and whether the huge visibility of Valletta’s military heritage colors the way locals view the city.
-Russell
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