Throughout much of its history, Malta has been considered a crucial location due in large part to its position in the Mediterranean Sea.[3] It was held by several ancient cultures including
Sicilians,
Romans,
Phoenicians,
Byzantines and others. The island is commonly associated with the
Knights of St. John who ruled it. This, along with the historic pseudo-historic and religiously claimed shipwreck of
St. Paul on the island, and since the 12th century ingrained a
Roman Catholic legacy which is still the official
religion in Malta today combined with secular values.
The country's official languages are
Maltese and
English; the former is the national language and the latter a legacy from Malta's period as a
British colony. Malta gained
independence in 1964 and is, as of 2017, a member of the
Commonwealth of Nations, as well as the
European Union, which it joined in 2004.