A small but strategically important group of islands, the archipelago has through its long and turbulent history played a vital role in the struggles of a succession of powers for domination of the Mediterranean and in the interplay between emerging Europe and the older cultures of Africa and the Middle East. As a result, Maltese society has been molded by centuries of foreign rule by various powers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Swabians, Aragonese, Hospitallers, French, and British.
You can still spot many of the British influences such as the driving on the right side of the car, the sockets, and the fact that English has remained as one of the official languages, alongside with Maltese. Indeed, this is one of the major attractions to many students and workers from all over the world.