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MATSEC SEC History study materials
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MATSEC SEC History practice questions

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Question 1History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which Neolithic temple complex in Malta is notable for its massive stone blocks and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list along with five other megalithic sites?

  1. Tarxien
  2. Ġgantija Correct answer.
  3. Ħaġar Qim
  4. Mnajdra

Explanation

Ġgantija, on Gozo, is famous for its enormous megalithic blocks and is the earliest of the Maltese temple complexes to be inscribed by UNESCO. The other temples named are also megalithic but are not the ones distinguished by the exceptionally massive blocks associated with Ġgantija.

Question 2History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

The Phoenicians established a trading presence on Malta, and their settlement on the island is generally identified with which site?

  1. Mdina
  2. Rabat
  3. Birgu
  4. Marsaxlokk Correct answer.

Explanation

Phoenician material on Malta is concentrated at Marsaxlokk, a natural harbour suited to their trading networks across the Mediterranean. The other sites are associated with later Punic, Roman or medieval phases rather than the earliest Phoenician presence.

Question 3History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which event marked the beginning of direct Roman rule over the Maltese islands?

  1. The defeat of Carthage in the Second Punic War Correct answer.
  2. The arrival of Saint Paul after his shipwreck
  3. The granting of municipium status by Hadrian
  4. The division of the empire under Diocletian

Explanation

Malta passed to Rome after Carthage's defeat in the Second Punic War, when the islands came under Roman control. Saint Paul's shipwreck and later administrative changes occurred after Roman rule was already established.

Question 4History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

According to tradition, Saint Paul was shipwrecked on Malta while being taken to Rome. Which detail of the account is traditionally linked to the island's Christianisation?

  1. He was tried before a Roman governor on the island
  2. He founded a monastery at Mdina
  3. He healed the father of Publius, the island's leading official Correct answer.
  4. He appointed a bishop before departing

Explanation

The Acts of the Apostles recounts Paul healing the father of Publius, the leading man of the island, an episode traditionally tied to Malta's early conversion. The other details are later or invented developments not in the narrative.

Question 5History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which Muslim dynasty is associated with the conquest of Malta in 870?

  1. The Aghlabids Correct answer.
  2. The Ottomans
  3. The Umayyads of Cordoba
  4. The Fatimids

Explanation

The Aghlabids, based in Ifriqiya, are credited with the conquest of Malta in 870 during their expansion across the central Mediterranean. The Fatimids, Umayyads and Ottomans belong to other phases or regions.

Question 6History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

The Norman conquest of Malta in 1091 is attributed to which ruler?

  1. Roger I of Sicily Correct answer.
  2. Charles of Anjou
  3. Robert Guiscard
  4. Frederick II

Explanation

Roger I of Sicily took Malta in 1091, bringing the islands into the Norman orbit of Sicily. Robert Guiscard was his relative but is associated with other campaigns, while Frederick II and Charles of Anjou belong to later periods.

Question 7History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which body was responsible for governing Malta's local nobility and administering the islands under Sicilian rule in the late medieval period?

  1. The Consiglio Popolare
  2. The Inquisition
  3. The Knights' Chapter
  4. The Università Correct answer.

Explanation

The Università was the body through which the Maltese elite administered local affairs under Sicilian overlordship. The Consiglio Popolare was a related but distinct assembly, while the Inquisition and the Knights' Chapter were religious institutions.

Question 8History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

In 1530 the Knights of Saint John were granted Malta as a fief. Which ruler granted them the islands?

  1. Emperor Charles V Correct answer.
  2. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent
  3. Pope Clement VII
  4. King Francis I of France

Explanation

Charles V, as ruler of Sicily, granted Malta to the Hospitaller Order in 1530 in return for an annual falcon. The Pope did not grant the islands, and the French king and Ottoman sultan were not in a position to do so.

Question 9History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which event in 1565 is regarded as the defining siege in Maltese history, when the Knights and islanders resisted an Ottoman invasion?

  1. The Raid on Gozo
  2. The Siege of Mdina
  3. The Great Siege Correct answer.
  4. The Battle of Lepanto

Explanation

The Great Siege of 1565 saw the Hospitallers under Grand Master Jean de Valette withstand an Ottoman assault. The other events are distinct: the Gozo raid and Lepanto were separate episodes, and Mdina was not the subject of a named siege of this kind.

Question 10History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which Grand Master ordered the building of the fortified city of Valletta after the Great Siege?

  1. Ramon Perellos
  2. Alof de Wignacourt
  3. Jean de Valette Correct answer.
  4. Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam

Explanation

Jean de Valette gave his name to the new fortified city built after 1565 to secure the harbour. L'Isle-Adam preceded him, while Wignacourt and Perellos were later Grand Masters associated with other projects.

Question 11History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

The fortifications known as the Cottonera Lines enclose which group of cities on the Grand Harbour?

  1. Mdina and Rabat
  2. Valletta, Floriana and Marsamxett
  3. Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua Correct answer.
  4. Marsaxlokk and Birżebbuġa

Explanation

The Cottonera Lines were built to protect the Three Cities of Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua on the Grand Harbour. The other groupings refer to different areas and defensive works.

Question 12History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which Hospitaller Grand Master is associated with the construction of the Wignacourt Aqueduct to supply Valletta with water?

  1. Jean de Lascaris
  2. Alof de Wignacourt Correct answer.
  3. Nicolas Cotoner
  4. Antoine de Paule

Explanation

Alof de Wignacourt gave his name to the aqueduct that carried water to Valletta from the Rabat area. The other Grand Masters are associated with different building projects and periods.

Question 13History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

The Maltese uprising against French rule in 1798 began after which incident?

  1. The French sale of church property at a public auction Correct answer.
  2. The arrest of the Grand Master
  3. The imposition of conscription on the islanders
  4. The closure of the Grand Harbour to trade

Explanation

Discontent over the French seizure and sale of church property, including at a public auction, sparked the uprising that began in 1798. The other events did not trigger the revolt in the way described.

Question 14History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which British naval victory in 1800 helped secure Malta for Britain and end French hopes in the Mediterranean?

  1. The Glorious First of June
  2. The Battle of Copenhagen
  3. The Battle of Trafalgar
  4. The Battle of the Nile Correct answer.

Explanation

Nelson's victory at the Nile in 1798 cut off French forces in Egypt and helped isolate the French garrison on Malta, which surrendered in 1800. The other battles are naval engagements of different dates and contexts.

Question 15History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Under the Treaty of Paris of 1814, Malta's status was confirmed as which of the following?

  1. A Sicilian dependency
  2. A British colony Correct answer.
  3. A French protectorate
  4. An independent republic

Explanation

The Treaty of Paris in 1814 confirmed Malta as a British colony after the Napoleonic Wars. The other statuses did not reflect the settlement reached at that time.

Question 16History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which British governor of Malta in the early nineteenth century was known for his autocratic style and for suppressing the local press?

  1. Sir William Reid
  2. Sir Richard More O'Ferrall
  3. Sir Thomas Maitland Correct answer.
  4. Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant

Explanation

Sir Thomas Maitland governed Malta as a virtual autocrat and curtailed press freedom in the early British period. The other governors served later and are associated with different policies.

Question 17History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

The granting of a constitution in 1921 gave Malta which form of government?

  1. A military administration
  2. Full independence
  3. A diarchy with a responsible ministry Correct answer.
  4. Direct rule from London

Explanation

The 1921 constitution established a diarchy, with elected ministers responsible for domestic affairs and the British governor retaining control of reserved matters. Independence and direct rule describe other periods.

Question 18History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Malta's role in the Second World War led to the award of which decoration in 1942?

  1. The Military Cross
  2. The George Cross Correct answer.
  3. The Victoria Cross
  4. The Distinguished Service Order

Explanation

The George Cross was awarded to Malta in 1942 in recognition of the islands' endurance under siege. The other decorations are individual awards and were not conferred on the island as a whole.

Question 19History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which event in 1947 was significant for Maltese political participation?

  1. The closure of the dockyard
  2. The granting of independence
  3. The introduction of universal adult suffrage Correct answer.
  4. The formation of the Labour Party

Explanation

In 1947 Malta introduced universal adult suffrage, extending the vote to women and widening political participation. Independence came later, and the party's formation and the dockyard closure are separate events.

Question 20History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

On which date did Malta become independent?

  1. 13 December 1974
  2. 1 January 1973
  3. 31 March 1979
  4. 21 September 1964 Correct answer.

Explanation

Malta became independent on 21 September 1964, a date still celebrated as Independence Day. The other dates mark different constitutional and political milestones.

Question 21History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

What constitutional change took place in Malta on 13 December 1974?

  1. Malta joined the European Union
  2. Malta adopted the euro
  3. Malta gained self-government
  4. Malta became a republic Correct answer.

Explanation

On 13 December 1974 Malta became a republic, replacing the monarch as head of state with a president. EU membership and the euro came much later, and self-government dated from 1921.

Question 22History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

The Maltese general election of 1981 was controversial mainly because of which outcome?

  1. Women were barred from voting
  2. The election was postponed indefinitely
  3. The party with the majority of votes did not obtain a majority of seats Correct answer.
  4. The result was annulled by the governor

Explanation

In 1981 the Nationalist Party won a majority of votes but the Labour Party won a majority of parliamentary seats, triggering a prolonged political crisis. The other outcomes did not occur.

Question 23History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Malta's application to join the European Union led to membership becoming effective in which year?

  1. 2004 Correct answer.
  2. 2011
  3. 1995
  4. 2008

Explanation

Malta joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 following a referendum and protracted negotiations. The other years correspond to different milestones or unrelated events.

Question 24History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which factor best explains why Malta's strategic position mattered so much to successive rulers from the Phoenicians to the British?

  1. Its position on a major land trade route
  2. Its central Mediterranean location and sheltered harbours Correct answer.
  3. Its extensive river network
  4. Its large reserves of coal and iron

Explanation

Malta's central Mediterranean location and its sheltered Grand Harbour made it a valuable naval and trading base for many powers. The island lacks significant mineral reserves, major rivers and land routes, so those explanations do not apply.

Question 25History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

When the Knights of Saint John arrived in 1530, how did their presence reshape Malta's social hierarchy?

  1. The island was divided into feudal estates held by Italian families
  2. A foreign ruling elite was superimposed on existing Maltese institutions Correct answer.
  3. The Università was replaced by a French administration
  4. The local nobility was abolished entirely

Explanation

The Order formed a foreign ruling elite above the existing Maltese nobility and institutions, which continued to function in local affairs. The other options overstate or misdescribe the changes, since the Università and the local elite were not abolished.

Question 26History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which people are generally credited with introducing the Phoenician alphabet to Malta during their trading settlement of the islands?

  1. The Aragonese
  2. The Normans
  3. The Phoenicians Correct answer.
  4. The Byzantines

Explanation

The Phoenicians established trading posts on Malta around the eighth century BC and brought their script with them, leaving inscriptions such as those found at Ras il-Qammieh. Their alphabet is the earliest writing system attested on the islands, predating later Greek and Roman influence.

Question 27History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Malta's position in the central Mediterranean made it valuable to ancient powers primarily because it offered which advantage?

  1. Large deposits of copper and tin for bronze production
  2. A land bridge connecting Sicily to the African coast
  3. A source of grain surplus that could feed the whole Mediterranean
  4. A sheltered anchorage and a staging point between Sicily and North Africa Correct answer.

Explanation

Malta's deep, sheltered harbours gave ships a safe stop on the east-west and north-south sea routes of the central Mediterranean. Control of the island therefore meant control of movement between Sicily, North Africa and the Levant.

Question 28History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which Roman-era site on Malta preserves a domed hall and mosaic floors associated with the residence of a Roman official?

  1. The Tarxien Temples
  2. The Mnajdra complex
  3. The Domvs Romana at Rabat Correct answer.
  4. Fort St Angelo

Explanation

The Domvs Romana at Rabat is a Roman townhouse with mosaic pavements and a peristyle, interpreted as the residence of a wealthy or official household. It illustrates the Romanisation of the island after it came under Roman control in 218 BC.

Question 29History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

According to tradition, which event on Malta is associated with the shipwreck described in the Acts of the Apostles?

  1. The stay of Saint Paul on the island and the conversion of its governor Correct answer.
  2. The exile of Pope Martin I to the island
  3. The arrival of Saint Luke to found a bishopric
  4. The martyrdom of Saint Agatha at Rabat

Explanation

The Acts of the Apostles describes Paul being shipwrecked on an island called Melita and healing the sick, including the father of the leading official Publius. Maltese Christian tradition identifies this island as Malta and connects the episode to the early conversion of the island.

Question 30History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which Arab dynasty is most closely associated with the conquest of Malta in 870?

  1. The Aghlabids Correct answer.
  2. The Fatimids
  3. The Mamluks
  4. The Umayyads of Cordoba

Explanation

The Aghlabids, ruling from Ifriqiya, took Malta in 870 during their campaigns against Byzantine Sicily and its dependencies. Their conquest ended Byzantine control and began a period of Arab rule that shaped Maltese place names and language.

Question 31History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which feature of modern Maltese is most directly explained by the period of Arab rule?

  1. Its Germanic word order in subordinate clauses
  2. Its reliance on Italian verb endings for the past tense
  3. Its use of the Latin alphabet for all official documents
  4. Its Semitic vocabulary and grammatical structure Correct answer.

Explanation

Maltese is a Semitic language whose core vocabulary and morphology derive from the Arabic spoken on the island during the Arab period. Later layers of Sicilian, Italian and English vocabulary sit on top of that Semitic base.

Question 32History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which county title was held by the ruler who governed Malta during the late medieval period before the arrival of the Knights?

  1. Count of Malta Correct answer.
  2. Duke of Gozo
  3. Marquis of Mdina
  4. Baron of Valletta

Explanation

The title Count of Malta was created in the twelfth century and granted to a series of feudal lords who held the islands from the Sicilian crown. Holders included members of the Norman and later Aragonese-linked nobility.

Question 33History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

The Maltese nobility's role in local government under Sicilian rule was exercised mainly through which institution?

  1. The Langue of Italy
  2. The Inquisition
  3. The Consiglio Popolare of Valletta
  4. The Università Correct answer.

Explanation

The Università was the body through which the Maltese nobility administered local affairs, collected dues and represented the islands to the crown. It functioned in Mdina and later in the harbour area until reforms under the Knights curtailed it.

Question 34History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Under the Knights of Saint John, which office was responsible for the defence of the island's fortifications and the command of its militia?

  1. The Bishop of Malta
  2. The Grand Master Correct answer.
  3. The Inquisitor
  4. The Castellano of Gozo

Explanation

The Grand Master held supreme military and political authority over the Order and the island, directing fortification works and commanding its forces. Fort building at Valletta and Cottonera was undertaken on his authority.

Question 35History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which economic activity dominated Malta's rural economy under the Knights of Saint John?

  1. Cotton growing and subsistence agriculture Correct answer.
  2. Shipbuilding on an industrial scale
  3. Silver mining in the interior
  4. Sugar cane plantations worked by enslaved labour

Explanation

Most Maltese lived from subsistence farming, and cotton was the island's most important cash crop, exported to Sicily and beyond. The rural economy remained agricultural rather than industrial or mineral-based.

Question 36History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

The Maltese uprising against the French in 1798 relied heavily on which form of support from outside the islands?

  1. Ottoman janissary reinforcements
  2. Papal troops sent from Rome
  3. British naval and military assistance Correct answer.
  4. Spanish gold subsidies

Explanation

The insurgents blockaded the French in the harbour cities and sought help from Britain, whose fleet under Nelson controlled the Mediterranean. British naval support and troops were decisive in forcing the French to capitulate in 1800.

Question 37History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which feature of the 1813 Bathurst Constitution was significant for Maltese political life?

  1. It introduced universal male suffrage
  2. It created a nominated council with limited Maltese representation Correct answer.
  3. It abolished the position of governor
  4. It established a fully elected legislative assembly

Explanation

The Bathurst Constitution set up a governor with an advisory council that included a small number of Maltese nominees. It gave the island's elite a limited voice but left real power with the British governor.

Question 38History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which development in the nineteenth century most increased the Maltese population's dependence on imported food?

  1. Rapid population growth in the harbour towns Correct answer.
  2. The transfer of the capital from Valletta to Mdina
  3. The collapse of the cotton export trade
  4. The closure of the Grand Harbour to foreign shipping

Explanation

Population growth, especially around the harbour and later the dockyard, outstripped the island's ability to feed itself from local agriculture. Malta therefore came to rely on imported grain, making employment and wages critical to survival.

Question 39History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which report of the 1830s recommended reforms to Malta's administration and courts on behalf of the British government?

  1. The Chamberlain Report
  2. The Strachey Report
  3. The Keenan Report
  4. The report of John Austin and George Cornewall Lewis Correct answer.

Explanation

John Austin and George Cornewall Lewis were sent to Malta in the 1830s and produced a report criticising the administration of justice and recommending reforms. Their findings fuelled demands for a more representative form of government.

Question 40History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which language question was central to Maltese political debate in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?

  1. Whether French should become the official language
  2. Whether Arabic should be taught in all state schools
  3. Whether Italian or English should be the language of the courts and administration Correct answer.
  4. Whether Maltese should replace Latin in church liturgy

Explanation

The language question pitted the pro-Italian professional and clerical elite against those who accepted English as the language of administration and advancement. It shaped party politics and the constitutional disputes of the period.

Question 41History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which consequence followed from the 1919 riots in Valletta?

  1. The granting of a more representative constitution in 1921 Correct answer.
  2. The expulsion of the British governor
  3. The permanent closure of the dockyard
  4. The immediate granting of independence

Explanation

The Sette Giugno riots over bread prices and political frustration prompted Britain to concede a substantial measure of self-government. The 1921 constitution created a diarchic system with an elected legislature handling domestic affairs.

Question 42History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Under the 1921 constitution, which matters remained reserved to the British governor rather than the elected Maltese government?

  1. Local taxation and public works
  2. Agriculture and fisheries
  3. Education and public health
  4. Defence and foreign affairs Correct answer.

Explanation

The diarchic arrangement divided responsibility: elected ministers handled domestic matters such as education and health, while defence, foreign affairs and certain imperial interests stayed with the governor. This split was a constant source of friction.

Question 43History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which event led Britain to suspend Malta's constitution in 1933?

  1. A political crisis over the language of the courts and schools Correct answer.
  2. A dispute over naval base rents
  3. A nationalist boycott of the 1932 election
  4. A general strike in the dockyard

Explanation

Conflict between the elected government and the imperial authorities over the use of Italian in courts and education, along with financial disputes, led to the suspension of the constitution. Malta was then governed directly by the governor until the post-war period.

Question 44History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which role did the Malta dockyard play in British imperial strategy?

  1. It trained Maltese recruits for the Indian Army
  2. It manufactured aircraft for the Royal Air Force
  3. It was the main coaling station for the Atlantic Fleet
  4. It served as a repair and refitting base for the Mediterranean Fleet Correct answer.

Explanation

The dockyard gave Britain a fortified repair base in the central Mediterranean, supporting the fleet that guarded the route to Egypt and the East. Its workforce also made the dockyard a centre of Maltese organised labour.

Question 45History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

During the Second World War, which factor made Malta so difficult to defend and supply?

  1. Its proximity to Axis airfields in Sicily Correct answer.
  2. Its mountainous interior, which blocked airfields
  3. Its distance from British bases in Egypt
  4. Its lack of any harbour suitable for convoys

Explanation

Sicily lies only about ninety kilometres to the north, so Axis aircraft could reach Malta quickly and attack convoys approaching the island. This geography made supply runs costly and forced the defenders to rely on fighters and submarines.

Question 46History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which form of resistance did Maltese civilians most commonly use against the French garrison in 1798-1800?

  1. Sabotage of the island's freshwater cisterns
  2. A campaign of written petitions to Paris
  3. Mass emigration to Sicily
  4. A blockade of the harbour cities combined with irregular attacks Correct answer.

Explanation

The insurgents withdrew to Mdina and the countryside, cut off the French in the harbour area and mounted irregular attacks while waiting for British help. The blockade eventually forced the French to surrender in 1800.

Question 47History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which change to Malta's status took effect on 13 December 1974?

  1. Malta adopted the euro as its currency
  2. Malta joined the European Economic Community
  3. Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth Correct answer.
  4. Malta abolished its armed forces

Explanation

Constitutional amendments in December 1974 replaced the Queen as head of state with a Maltese president, making Malta a republic while it remained in the Commonwealth. The change was made by the Maltese parliament under the 1964 constitution's amendment procedures.

Question 48History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which issue lay at the heart of the 1981 constitutional crisis in Malta?

  1. A referendum on EU membership was annulled
  2. The courts struck down the electoral law
  3. The president refused to sign the budget
  4. The party with the most votes failed to win a parliamentary majority Correct answer.

Explanation

In 1981 the Nationalist Party won a majority of first-preference votes but the Labour Party won more seats because of the electoral system's district structure. The dispute led to a boycott of parliament and eventual constitutional changes guaranteeing a seat majority to the party with the most votes.

Question 49History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which factor best explains why the Knights of Saint John invested so heavily in fortifying the Grand Harbour area after 1565?

  1. The Grand Master wished to move the population away from Mdina
  2. The fortifications were intended mainly to protect cotton warehouses
  3. The area contained the island's main freshwater springs
  4. The harbour was the only large sheltered anchorage and the Order's base of naval power Correct answer.

Explanation

The Grand Harbour was the natural base for the Order's galleys and the point through which trade and reinforcement arrived, so its defence was essential. The Great Siege had shown that the harbour forts were the key to holding the island.

Question 50History (SEC syllabus content domains not enumerated in source)

Which long-term effect did British rule have on Malta's legal and administrative culture?

  1. French civil codes were adopted in place of all local statutes
  2. Maltese law was replaced entirely by Islamic jurisprudence
  3. The island reverted to Sicilian feudal law
  4. English replaced Italian in official use and common-law practices were introduced Correct answer.

Explanation

Over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries English became the language of administration and law, and British legal and administrative practices were layered onto the existing civil-law tradition. The result was a mixed system that persists in modern Malta.