History of Gozo

The following is a brief history of Gozo

It goes back to 5000 BC, when a group from Sicily succeeded in crossing over on some form of sea-craft.

These people who first colonised Gozo in the Neolithic Period (5000 - 4100 BC) lived in caves around il-Mixta on Ghajn Abdul.

This suggests that Gozo might have been inhabited earlier than Malta.

The Temple Period (4100 – 2500 BC) represents an important turning point in the cultural evolution of prehistoric man.

The greatest undertaking of the pre-Phoenician Gozitans are undoubtedly Ġgantija Temples (3600 – 3000 BC). These temples are documented to be the oldest free-standing temples in the world.
After the disappearance of the temple people, the island was repopulated by an entire different race.

The Bronze Age (2500 – 700 BC). Unlike their predecessors, these people were war-like people who used copper and bronze tools and weapons.

Among the interesting remains, there are three dolmens on the Ta’ Ċenċ Plateau.

The Phoenicians and Carthaginians (700 – 218 BC) the Phoenicians attracted by local harbours, establish a colony in Malta and Gozo.

Around 550 BC the Phoenicians of Carthage took over and the Carthaginians, as they were better known, remained masters until 218 BC. At the beginning of the second Punic War in 218 BC, the Carthaginians were ousted by the Romans (218 – AD 535).

In Gozo they created a municipium, autonomous of that of Malta with a republican sort of Government that minted its own coins too.

The Byzantines (535 – 870 AD) under the dominion of the East Roman Empire took over the islands.
Very little is known of the Byzantine times in Gozo. In 870 – 1127 the Arabs became sole masters of the Maltese Archipelago.

The Arab’s stay is evidenced by many place names and family names and especially by the name they gave to the island of Gozo – Ghawdex, that survives to this day.

The European Domination (1127 – 1530) led by Count Roger the Norman freed the islands from the Arabs. In 1127 the Norman’s took formal possession of the islands and hence shared the same fate of Sicily passing under the rule of Swabia (1194), Angou (1266) and Aragon (1282).

Around 1397, the Gozitans created the Universitas Gaudisii – a corporation to defend local interests. From then onwards, the Gozitans fought hard to maintain their ancient privileges and freedom.

Knights of St. John (1530 – 1798). During this era the islands passed under the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem , a chivalrous religious order officially founded in Jerusalem in 1133.

The island suffered the worst siege in history. The citadel was besieged by the Turks of Sinan Oasha. The entire population of about 5000 was taken as slaves. It was to be another 150 years before the knights contemplated the reality of an undefended Gozo. As a result, it is said a reluctance to communicate information creped irremediably into the Gozitan character.

The French (1798 -1800) On June 10 th 1798, the French under the General Napoleon Bonaparte, ousted the Knights from Malta.
Their rule in Gozo was short-lived. In September the people rose against the French, who, on the 18 th October 1799 surrendered to the Gozitans. Gozo enjoyed a short period of autonomy until 5 th September 1800 when the British took the Maltese Islands, under their protection.

The British (1800 – 1964) slowly transformed the islands into a fortress colony. Its resistance to the Axis bombardments during the Second World War is legendary.

Malta & Gozo became a sovereign independent state within the Commonwealth on the 21 st September 1964. On 13 th December 1974 Malta became a Republic. On the 1 st May 2004 the Maltese Islands became part of the European Union.