When was Malta made?

The Maltese Archipelago consists of five islands; Malta, Gozo, Comino, Cominotto and Filfla, which are situated in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. The earliest evidence of human habitation is dated to the Neolithic period (around 5,900 BC) when the first settlers brought their distinct culture with them from Sicily and developed the first civilisation on the islands. The islands also have a long and rich history and have been ruled by a variety of civilizations, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Normans, all of whom have left their mark on the islands' culture, architecture and language. The Knights of St. John ruled Malta from 1530 until their expulsion by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798. The British then ruled Malta until it gained independence in 1964.