The History of Malta dates back to as early as 5000 BC and the recent radio-carbon dating have shown that Malta’s standing stone monuments are much older than archaeologists had first assumed.  Then over the centuries, the shores of the Maltese islands were home to many travellers and rulers who have left their mark on the Maltese heritage and culture and sketching out the rich the History of Malta.  These include the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans and the Knights of St. John, followed by a short spell of French rule to be followed by the British until Malta became an independent state in 1964, a Republic in 1974 and finally a member of the European Union in 2004. The History of Malta is outlined strikingly in the books published by Miranda Publishers which give a well-written and researched account of Malta’s history written by some of Malta’s most prestigious historians and researchers, and accompanied by superb photography.