Malta Maritime History

When one considers the geographic position of the Maltese Islands it comes as no surprise that they have, throughout the ages, been at the centre of maritime activity in the Mediterranean.

In prehistoric times the first inhabitants of the islands must have crossed over from Sicily using rafts or simple vessels such as dug out canoes. Aspects of early man’s relationship with the sea are depicted in the fish relief of Tarxien temple (circa 2500 BC) as well as the ship graffiti found at the same place of worship.

In the Bronze Age vessels visited the island to procure the fine linen and cloth produced by the inhabitants and which seems to have been a thriving industry on the island. The visitors brought with them various goods including pottery from the Aegean.

It was the Phoenicians, however that first used the islands as a major staging post for their trade and shipping activity. Initially visiting as traders they eventually colonised the islands making use of the numerous harbours available on Malta and Gozo. The islands were an essential stop over for the east-west trade conducted by the Phoenicians across the Mediterranean and beyond.

Towards the 7th century BC the Phoenician colony of Carthage came into prominence and began to take over as the main traders as well as naval power in the Mediterranean. Malta now came to play an important role on the north-south trade between North Africa and Mediterranean Europe areas especially Sicily and Southern Italy. This trade is attested in Malta and Gozo by archaeological finds from both an underwater context as well as from land finds.

The Punic Wars saw the islands fall into the hands of the emerging Mediterranean superpower of the time, the Romans. During the Roman period Malta and Gozo enjoyed a prosperous spell mainly derived from the local textile industry and sea borne trade. The islands are blessed with a wealth of archaeological sites which bear out the thriving economy of the islands. We also have confirmation of the islands’ status from various writers of antiquity, some of whom describe the trade and harbours of the islands. The seas around the island have produced some important archaeological remains that have helped shed more light on the maritime past of the islands.

Subsequent periods of the islands’ history include the Byzantine period, which saw the island used as a stop over for both the empire’s navy as well as her trade between the eastern and central Mediterranean areas. Eventually the Arabs ousted the Byzantines and established themselves on the island. That vessels made frequent use of the harbours is evidenced by the numerous Semitic place names with a maritime connotation such as Marsa, meaning harbour, and Mgarr, meaning a loading place. Throughout the rest of the Middle Ages the archipelago found itself on the main trade routes once again. An important naval battle was fought in 1283 between the Angevins and Aragonese and this took place in the main harbour of Malta. Ships visited the islands to pick up the cotton grown on the island as well as to drop of grain and other supplies.

It was the coming of the knights in 1530 that gave continued impetus to the maritime character of Malta and Gozo. This because many of the local inhabitants found employment with the Order’s navy as well as other auxiliary services related to shipbuilding and victualling. Enterprising individuals took to trade and corsairing, fitting out locally built vessels and sailing to all corners of the Mediterranean and beyond. In the 18th century Maltese traders were well known as far a field as the coasts of Spain and the island itself became one of the first freeports, with specially constructed warehouses made available by the Grandmasters to traders and ship owners.

When the islands were taken over by the British the latter found a population attuned to a life bound to the sea as well as an infrastructure that complemented the requirements for their powerful navy. Not only were seamen employed with the Royal Navy but rope makers, carpenters and sail makers made their skills available to the naval establishment on the island.

The British developed and expanded the maritime services and structures that had been started by the Order of St John as well as established new ones such as the dry-docks and the massive breakwater at the mouth of the harbour. However it was not just the British that took advantage of the island’s strategic position. The locals invested in ships and trade and were also quick to exploit opportunities when these presented themselves. The opening of the Suez Canal helped transform the island into an essential coaling station providing one such opportunity.

Since the gaining independence Malta has continued to be at the forefront of maritime activity in the Mediterranean. The Freeport, yachting, cruise liners and ship registration are amongst the activities that have grown substantially in the past few decades. With the proposed development of additional marinas, a new cruise liner terminal and the expansion of the Freeport, the future of maritime Malta looks set to expand. It would not be unreasonable to say that this is a future built on an ancient and solid tradition.