Maltese people 3475521 225855283 2008-07-15T18:39:54Z 78.146.255.230 RV. Please state your reasons for a revert. Not doing this is seen as an infringement of Wiki-etiquette. {{Ethnic group| There are also large Maltese communities in the United Kingdom, as well as some in Gilbartar, Egypt, Italy, Libya, Tunisia, Algiers, Morocco, France, Germany, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, South Africa, Ireland, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay and etc |group={{Tnavbar-header|[[Maltese people|Maltese]]<br><small>Maltin|Maltese ethnicity}} |image=[[Image:Maltespeople.JPG|350px]] [[Gerald Strickland]] • [[Enrico Mizzi]] • [[Edward de Bono]] • [[Rużar Briffa]] </small></small> |poptime=''c. '' '''740,000''' |popplace= {{MLT}}:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; '''400,000''' (2006)<br /> {{AUS}}:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; '''153,805''' (2006)<ref>[http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?action=404&documentproductno=0&documenttype=Details&order=1&tabname=Details&areacode=0&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&javascript=true&textversion=false&navmapdisplayed=true&breadcrumb=TLPD&&collection=Census&period=2006&productlabel=Ancestry%20(full%20classification%20list)%20by%20Sex&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&topic=Ancestry& How 2006 Census]</ref><br/> {{USA}}:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; '''35,540''' (2002)<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=D&-ds_name=D&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-mt_name=ACS_2002_EST_G2000_PCT026 2002 Community Survey]</ref>)<br/> {{BRA}}:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; '''58,000'''<<br/> {{CAN}}:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; '''37,125''' (2006)<ref>[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=0&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=1&IPS=&METH=0&ORDER=1&PID=92333&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=No&StartRow=1&SUB=801&Temporal=2006&Theme=80&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= Statistics Canada, 2006 Census: Ethnic Origin]</ref>)<br/> {{UK}}:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; '''30,178''' (Maltese born in 2001<ref>http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/23/34792376.xls</ref>)<br/> {{IRL}}:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; '''285''' (2006)<ref>[http://www.cso.ie/statistics/placebirthagegroup.htm CSO Ireland - 2006 Census]</ref> <br/> {{GIB}}:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; '''100''' <br/> |langs=[[Maltese language|Maltese]], [[English language|English]]<ref>http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=MT</ref>, [[Italian language|Italian]] <ref>http://www6.gencat.net/llengcat/noves/hm04primavera-estiu/a_badia2_3.htm</ref> |rels=[[Roman Catholic]]. }} The '''Maltese people''' or '''Maltese''' are a [[Southern European]] [[nation]] and [[ethnic group]] native to [[Malta]], an island nation consisting of an archipelago of seven islands in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. ==Historical background== {{main|History of Malta}} Malta has been inhabited from around [[5200 BC]], since the arrival of the [[Sicani]] tribe from the Italian island of [[Sicily]].<ref name=gozo/> A significant prehistoric [[Neolithic]] culture marked by [[Megalithic]] structures existed on the islands, predating the [[Pyramids of Giza]] by a millennium. The [[Phoenicians]] colonized Malta from about 1000 BC, using the islands as an outpost from which they expanded sea explorations and trade in the Mediterranean until their successors, the [[Carthaginians]], were ousted by the Romans in 216 BC. After a period of [[Byzantine empire|Byzantine]] rule ([[4th century|4th]] to [[9th century]]) and a probable sack by the [[Vandals]]{{fact|date=June 2008}}, the islands were conquered by the [[Arab]]s from [[Sicily|Sicily (Italy)]] in AD 870, which had earlier been invaded by the Arabs. The Arabs, who generally tolerated the population's Christianity<ref>http://www.visitmalta.com/arab-occupation</ref>, introduced the cultivation of citrus fruits and cotton, and irrigation systems. Arab influence can be seen most prominently in the modern [[Maltese language]], a hybrid of [[Sicanian language|Sicanian]], [[Siculo-Arabic]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Sicilian language|Sicilian Italian]], [[French language|French]], and [[English language|English]]. It is the only [[Semitic languages|Semitic language]] written in the [[Latin alphabet]] in its standard form. From the advent of the Normans in [[1090]] to [[1530]], Malta was part of the [[Kingdom of Sicily]]; thus from [[1091]] to [[1530]] when the [[Knights Hospitaller|Order of St. John]] came to [[Malta]], the island's population was further enhanced by European elements over a period of 440 years. The French under [[Napoleon]] took hold of the Maltese islands in 1798, although with the aid of the British, the Maltese were able to oust French control two years later. The inhabitants subsequently desired Britain to accept the sovereignty of the islands, and as part of the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)]], Malta became a colony within the [[British Empire]]. Malta was granted independence on [[September 21]], [[1964]] ([[Independence Day (Malta)|Independence Day]]). Under its 1964 [[constitution]], Malta initially retained Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] as [[Queen of Malta]], with a [[Governor-General]] exercising [[executive (government)|executive]] authority on her behalf. On [[December 13]], [[1974]] ([[Republic Day (Malta)|Republic Day]]), however, it became a [[republic]] within the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], with the [[President of Malta|President]] as [[head of state]]. Malta joined the [[European Union]] on [[May 1]], [[2004]] and joined the [[Eurozone]] on [[January 1]], [[2008]]. ==Culture== {{main|Culture of Malta}} ===Language=== {{Main|Maltese language}} Maltese people speak the [[Maltese language]], a Semitic language written in the [[Latin alphabet]] in its standard form. The language developed from [[Siculo-Arabic]], a Semitic dialect spoken in [[Sicily]] and surrounding [[Southern Italy]].<ref>[http://www.macmillandictionary.com/MED-magazine/February2005/27-LI-Maltese.htm MED Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However in the course of Malta's recent history, the language has adopted large volumes of vocabulary, grammar, and lexology from [[Italian language|Italian]] (in particular, [[Sicilian language|Sicilian]]), [[English language|English]], and lesserly, [[French language|French]]. The official languages of Malta are [[English language|English]] and Maltese, with Italian also widely spoken. Maltese became an official language of Malta in 1934, prior to which the official language was Italian. Today, there are an estimated 371,900 Maltese speakers. There are a significant number of Maltese expatriates in Australia, the United States and Canada who can still speak the language. ===Multilingualism=== {{main|Languages of Malta}} [[Bilingualism]] and even [[multilingualism]] is common in Malta. The Eurobarometer statistics show 100% of people speak [[Maltese language|Maltese]], 88% speak [[English language|English]], 66% [[Italian language|Italian]], 17% [[French language|French]], which shows a greater degree of fluency in a greater amount of languages than many other European countries have.<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf</ref> For 29% of the population, English is the language of the workplace. Studies indicate that somewhere between 86% and 90% of the population speak Maltese within their families, while among friends, that figure drops to about 83.6%. For several decades there has been a growing trend among young Maltese families to speak to their children in English at home. Secondary and tertiary education is exclusively in English.<ref>European Commission, "Malta: Country Profile", ''Euromosaic Study'' (September 2004). Available online, at http://ec.europa.eu/[http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages/langmin/euromosaic/mal_en.pdf]</ref> ===Religion=== {{main|Religion in Malta}} The Constitution of Malta provides for [[freedom of religion]] but establishes Roman Catholicism as the [[state religion]]. [[Freedom House]] and the ''[[World Factbook]]'' report that 98 percent of the Maltese religion is Roman Catholic, making the nation one of the most Catholic countries in the world. ==Genetic links== The first settlers on Malta were the [[Sicani]] tribe from the Italian island of [[Sicily]].<ref name=gozo/> However, the result of the influences on the population after this have been fiercely debated among historians and geneticists. The origins question is complicated by numerous factors, including Malta's turbulent history of invasions and conquests, with long periods of depopulation followed by periods of immigration to Malta and intermarriage with the Maltese by foreigners from the [[Mediterranean sea|Mediterranean]], [[Western Europe|Western]] and [[Southern European]] countries that ruled Malta. The many demographic influences on the island include: *The exile to Malta of the entire male population of the town of [[Celano]] (Italy) in [[1223]] *The stationing of [[Normans|Norman French]] and [[Sicily#people|Sicilian Italian]] [[garrison|troops]] on Malta in [[1240]] *The removal of all remaining [[Arabs]] from Malta in [[1224]]<ref>Debattista, Martin; [http://www.aboutmalta.com/history/time-Line.htm Timeline of Malta History]; retrieved on [2008-05-14]</ref> *The arrival of several hundred [[Catalan people|Catalan]] soldiers in [[1283] *The European repopulation of Malta that began in the [[13th century]],<ref>''Constantiae Imperatricis et Reginae Siciliae Diplomata: 1195-1198'', ed. T.K.Slzer (Vienna, 1983), 237-240.</ref> *The settlement in Malta of noble families from Sicily (Italy) and [[Aragon]] between [[1372]] and [[1450]] *The arrival of several thousand [[Greek people|Greek]] and Rhodian sailors, soldiers and slaves with the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of St. John]] *The introduction of several thousand Sicilian laborers in [[1551]] and again in [[1566]] *The emigration of some 891 [[Italian people|Italian]] exiles to Malta during the [[Risorgimento]] in [[1849]] *The posting of some 22,000 [[British people|British]] servicemen in Malta from [[1807]] to [[1979]].<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/melitahistoricac/CC06.htm Joseph M. Brincat, "Language and Demography in Malta: The Social Foundations of the Symbiosis between Semitic and Romance in Standard Maltese," in ''Malta: A Case Study in International Cross-Currents''.] Proceedings of the First International Colloquium on the history of the Central Mediterranean held at the University of Malta, 13-17 December 1989. Ed: S. Fiorini and V. Mallia-Milanes (Malta University Publications, Malta Historical Society, and Foundation for International Studies, University of Malta) at 91-110.] Last visited August 5, 2007.</ref> ===Propaganda=== Over time, the rulers of Malta have published their own ethnic study of the population. These studies however, are very unreliable, considering that they were influenced by the ruling power's desire at the time to unite the island with whatever the ruling power was.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/melitahistoricac/CC03.htm Anthony Luttrell, "Medieval Malta: the Non-written and the Written Evidence", in ''Malta: A Case Study in International Cross-Currents''.] Proceedings of the First International Colloquium on the history of the Central Mediterranean held at the University of Malta, 13-17 December 1989. Ed: S. Fiorini and V. Mallia-Milanes (Malta University Publications, Malta Historical Society, and Foundation for International Studies, University of Malta) at 33-45. Last visited August 5, 2007.</ref> ====Catholic Propaganda==== During the rule of the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of St. John]] (a time when Malta suffered repeated [[Ghazw|raids]] at the hands of the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] and [[Barbary corsairs]]), the history books promoted the idea of a continuous, [[Roman Catholic]], native Maltese population, that somehow survived without interuption despite the various conquests of the island.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/melitahistorica/index1.html Anthony T. Luttrell, "Girolamo Manduca and Gian Francesco Abela: Tradition and invention in Maltese Historiography," in ''Melita Historica'', 7 (1977) 2 (105-132)]. Last visited August 5, 2007.</ref> ====British Propaganda==== During British colonial rule, publishings promoted the theory of [[Phoenicians|Phoenician]] origins, in an attempt to distinguish the Maltese from their [[Sicily#people|Sicilian]] and [[Italian people|Italian]] neighbours, so as to counter the growing power of the Italian Fascist regime in the Meditteranean.<ref>See, ''e.g.'': [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09574a.htm "Malta: Civil History," in ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'', Volume IX]. Published 1910. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat, October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York. Last visited August 6, 2007.</ref> ====Libyan Propaganda==== During the [[Dom Mintoff|Mintoff]] years following [[Independence]] of Malta, Libya had loaned several million dollars to Malta to make up for the loss of rental income which followed the closure of British military bases in Malta;<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,877632-1,00.html "Gaddafi to the Rescue"], in ''Time Magazine'' (Monday, Jan. 17, 1972). Last viewed August 8, 2007.</ref> Malta and Libya had entered into a ''Friendship and Cooperation Treaty'', in response to repeated overtures by [[Gaddafi]] for a closer, more formal union between the two countries; and, for a brief period, Arabic had become a compulsory subject in Maltese secondary schools.<ref>Hanspeter Mattes, "Aspekte der libyschen Außeninvestitionspolitik 1972-1985 (Fallbeispiel Malta)," ''Mitteilungen des Deutschen Orient-Instituts'', No. 26 (Hamburg: 1985), at 88-126; 142-161.</ref> These closer ties with Libya meant a dramatic new (but short-lived) development in Maltese foreign policy: Western media reported that Malta appeared to be turning its back on [[NATO]], the [[UK]], and [[Europe]] generally.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,920217,00.html "Our Sad Adieu"], in ''Time Magazine'' (Monday, Apr. 09, 1979). Last viewed August 8, 2007.</ref> History books were published that began to spread the idea of a disconnection between the Italian and Catholic populations, and instead tried to promote the theory of closer cultural and ethnic ties with North Africa. This new development was noted by Boissevain in [[1991]]: <blockquote> ''...the Labour government broke off relations with NATO and sought links with the Arab world. After 900 years of being linked to Europe, Malta began to look southward. Muslims, still remembered in folklore for savage pirate attacks, were redefined as blood brothers.''<ref>Jeremy Boissevain, "Ritual, Play, and Identity: Changing Patterns of Celebration in Maltese Villages," in ''Journal of Mediterranean Studies'', Vol.1 (1), 1991:87-100 at 88.</ref> </blockquote> However, following the termination of the Mintoff government and backed by popular sentiment, Malta abandoned its fledgling relationship with North Africa and returned its attention and allegiance to NATO and Europe. ===The Phoenician origins theory=== Some recent studies carried out by geneticists [[Spencer Wells]] and Pierre Zalloua of the [[American University of Beirut]] collected samples of [[Y-chromosomes]] from men living in the Middle East, North Africa, southern Spain, and Malta, places the [[Phoenicians]] are known to have settled and traded. According to the study, more than half (50 %) of the Y chromosome lineages that are seen in today's Maltese population could have come in with the Phoenicians. As to why there is such a significant genetic impact, Wells could only speculate, ''"but the results are consistent with a settlement of people from the [[Levant]] within the past 2,000 years, and that points to the Phoenicians."'' <ref>[http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0410/feature2/online_extra.html In the Wake of the Phoenicians: DNA study reveals a Phoenician-Maltese link ]</ref> ===The Southern Italian theory=== A major study found that ''"the contemporary males of Malta most likely originated from Southern Italy, including Sicily and up to Calabria,"'' and that ''"[t]here is a minuscule amount of input from the Eastern Mediterranean with genetic affinity to Christian Lebanon."''<ref>[http://www.familytreedna.com/pdf/capelli2005.pdf C. Capelli, N. Redhead, N. Novelletto, L. Terrenato, P. Malaspina, Z. Poulli, G. Lefranc, A. Megarbane, V. Delague, V. Romano, F. Cali, V.F. Pascali, M. Fellous, A.E. Felice, and D.B. Goldstein; "Population Structure in the Mediterranean Basin: A Y Chromosome Perspective,"] ''Annals of Human Genetics'', 69, 1-20, 2005. Last visited August 8, 2007.</ref> This contradicts the "[[Phoenicia|Phoenician]] origins" theory, and states that the main Maltese population originally came from the [[Sicani]] tribes on [[Sicily]].<ref name="gozo">{{cite news|url=http://www.islandofgozo.org/history.htm|publisher=IslandofGozo.org|title=Gozo|date=[[7 October]] 2007}}</ref> One of the authors of the major study commented as follows on the Wells/Zalloua study: <blockquote> ''"We are aware of conflicting conclusions published as an interview in the popular National Geographic magazine. Despite an intensive search we cannot find them reproduced in the mainstream scientific literature. We consider that data somewhat flawed, and furthermore, unsound. National Geographic is not a peer-reviewed academic journal and thus the weight of the evidence is poor compared to other peer-reviewed academic journals that are also in the public domain. One cannot be comfortable with data that have not passed the scrutiny of peer review....'' </blockquote> <blockquote> ''[I]t seems to me that the simplest explanation that cannot be excluded by any of the scientific data thus far available is that Malta was indeed barely inhabited at the turn of the tenth century.'' </blockquote> <blockquote> ''Repopulation is likely to have occurred by a clan or clans (possibly of Arab or Arab-like speaking people) from neighbouring Sicily and Calabria. Possibly, they could have mixed with minute numbers of residual inhabitants, with a constant input of immigrants from neighbouring countries and later, even from afar. There seems to be little input from North Africa."''<ref>[http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=270452 Alex E. Felice, "Genetic origin of contemporary Maltese," ''The Sunday Times (of Malta)'', August 5, 2007], last visited August 5, 2007</ref> </blockquote> ==See also== * [[Malta]] * [[List of Maltese people]] * [[History of the Maltese in Gibraltar]] * [[Demographics of Malta]] ==External links== * [http://www.xs4all.nl/~nizaar/Melita%20Historica/MH.12.04/The%20Origin%20of%20Maltese%20Surnames.pdf Godfrey Wettinger, "The Origin of the 'Maltese' Surnames", in ''Melita Historica New Series'', 12 (1999) 4, pp. 333-44. Online at Melita Historica website, last visited January 7, 2007.] ==References== <div style="references-small"><references/></div> [[Category:Maltese people|*List of Maltese]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Europe]] [[Category:Maltese culture|People]] [[de:Malteser (Volk)]] [[he:מלטזים]] [[nl:Maltezen]] [[pl:Maltańczycy]] [[ru:Мальтийцы]] [[sh:Maltežani]]