M - Malta

's history was, in a sense, pre-destined for it by its excellent natural harbour and strategic location. The harbour provided a sheltered base for naval fleets whilst the island itself, situated at the cross-roads of the medierranean, enabled its colonising power to exercise control over shipping in this vast and turbulent sea. Hardly surprising therefore, that Malta has always exerted an irresistible attraction to the world military powers of successive epochs. Control over Malta was a prerequisite to domination of the Mediterranean and for this reason all the various powers that, at one time or other, held sway over the Mediterranean at the same time exercised control over Malta.