Malta presents a very lucid view of a beautiful, appealing, culturally rich, and strategically important island country that has endured against the odds - or perhaps because of them. Readers will find in Malta a land upon which the hand of man has brought about extensive alteration and, as a consequence, has created an unusually intense cultural landscape undergoing significant transformation as the "island fortress of the Mediterranean" adapts to the demands and opportunities of the modern world.
Roger Balm introduces the reader first to the natural landscape of Malta, but always relates important categories of landforms, weather, water and vegetation to the human presence. Next, the major historical and cultural traditions of Malta are identified, and these are followed by a review of modern Maltese society and economy, along with a tour of the main island of Malta. The book concludes with a forward-looking assessment of the current and near future status of Malta as a member of the world community of nations.
