https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/3335 2026-07-10T00:19:31Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147844 Title: The history of Malta during the islamic era Authors: Bazana, Mohamed Mustafa; Cassar, Frans X.; Mercieca, Simon Abstract: In 1970, during the final years of Malta’s Nationalist administration and while NATO still held strategic sway over the island, a lesser-known Arab-Libyan intellectual arrived in Malta. His name was Mohamed Mustafa Bazama. His purpose? To explore the deep-rooted historical ties between Malta and Tripoli, particularly when both were under the rule of the Order of St John. But Bazama’s findings would go far beyond mere local history. He uncovered a narrative with broader significance for the entire Arab world. Bazama’s book, written in Arabic, is divided into two parts, following a traditional Arab methodological structure. The introduction deals with the Malta of his time; the other with Malta’s past. His contemporary reflections focus on Malta’s potential importance to the Arab world, not only due to its geographical position but because, in his view, it still retained an Arab cultural and linguistic influence. This, he argued, was evident in the Maltese landscape, architecture, and especially in the language. More strikingly, Bazama advocated for Malta’s neutrality in global affairs, anticipating a position that would later become a cornerstone of Dom Mintoff’s foreign policy. Bazama appears to have arrived at this vision independently before Mintoff developed it politically. At the time of his visit, Malta remained a NATO-linked territory. Still, Bazama’s analysis likely resonated with the views of Muammar Gaddafi, who was by then the leader of Libya, explaining, in part, the latter’s eagerness to support a neutral Malta. Despite this ideological alignment, Bazama was no admirer of Gaddafi. When the Libyan leader came to power, Bazama distanced himself, relocating to Cyprus, then Sardinia, and eventually becoming active in the Italian Socialist Party of Bettino Craxi. Bazama’s contribution, however, extended well beyond politics. He also pioneered Arab historiographical sources to bear on Maltese history, especially those ignored mainly by Western scholarship. He was the first modern writer to highlight the overlooked observations of the 10th-century Arab geographer Ibn Ḥawqal. Bazama challenged the simplistic citation of Ibn Ḥawqal’s claim that Malta was inhabited only by donkeys and sheep. He pointed out that scholars typically stop there, but Ibn Ḥawqal continued to write about Malta, offering valuable commentary on why the Arabs lost control of the island. According to Ibn Ḥawqal, both Malta and Crete fell out of Arab hands due to corruption and sexual misconduct, particularly prostitution, an accusation that may also carry implications of homosexual activity, though Bazama leaves this interpretation open. Here, Bazama makes a critical historical misreading. He assumes that Ibn Ḥawqal referred to the Norman conquest of Malta in 1091. But this could not be the case: Ibn Ḥawqal died in 988 CE, long before the Normans arrived. In his own time, Malta was already lost to the Arabs, though not yet taken by the Normans. This is why later Arab sources like al-Qazwini say that Muslims only returned to the island in 1048. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147843 Title: Mohamed Mustafa Bazama’s contribution to Malta’s Arab Muslim intangible heritage : a demographic perspective Authors: Mercieca, Simon Abstract: Mohamed Mustafa Bazama’s The History of Malta During the Islamic Era marks a significant milestone in the study of Malta’s medieval history. While many of the historiographical elements presented in this work are widely accepted today, this was not the case when Bazama first published his book in 1971. Unfortunately, his writings remained largely unknown to the Maltese public, primarily because they were written in Arabic. However, thanks to Frans X. Cassar’s translation, Bazama’s research is now accessible to Maltese readers and scholars interested in Malta’s Arab and medieval past. [excerpt] 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146893 Title: Hospitaller Malta’s relations with Naples in the early eighteenth century through a study of correspondence of the Grand Master, 1700-1725 Abstract: The main purpose of the present dissertation is to reconstruct and examine the relationship between Hospitaller Malta and Naples in its eighteenth-century stage of development, with particular focus on the years from 1700 to 1725. These mutual relations will in turn help to explore the interconnectedness of their medical, diplomatic, economic, trade, and slave relations, highlighting how these particular areas of contact contributed to their mutual influence and cooperation. By examining these aspects, this research hopes to provide a deeper insight into their relationship, an untapped topic, as well as offer a thorough understanding of their shared history, and at the same time shedding light on the broader context of Mediterranean diplomacy and highlighting their importance in regional partnership. The present dissertation is organised into 3 thematic chapters. The Naval Warfare, Privateering and Diplomacy chapter details the intricate privateering, naval warfare, and diplomatic relations between Malta and Naples. It focuses on their shared commitment in the defence against Ottoman and Barbary corsairs. It also explores the set of laws, regulations and judicial institutions that governed privateering, maritime activities and conflicts in the Mediterranean during this period. Additionally, it examines the military tactics and ongoing conflicts, which shaped Mediterranean power, emphasising their cooperation in naval support and supplies. Malta and Naples maintained a good partnership rooted in religious and political interests aimed at preserving regional, Christian maritime dominance and geopolitical stability in the Mediterranean. The Economic and Social Relations between the Two States chapter explores the multifaceted economic and social ties between Malta and Naples. The section on trade highlights the extensive commercial relations, emphasising the exchange of a wide range of commodities such as food, textiles, and luxury goods. It also examines the important legal frameworks governing export practices, the vital role of maritime trade—including shipbuilding materials and licenses—and underscores the mutual economic respect, cooperation, and support that sustained their enduring commercial relationship. In addition, the chapter delves into Malta’s dependence on the Neapolitan Pazzarelli hospital for mental health treatment and related medical conditions. It traces the evolution of Malta’s healthcare institutions, exemplified by the establishment of the women’s hospital through benefactors like Caterina Scappi. Furthermore, the chapter examines the financial and administrative ties that facilitated cooperation in healthcare and highlights the progressive development of mental health services, reflecting the broader social and institutional connections between the two states. The Social and Political Institution of Slavery: The Maltese and Neapolitan Perspective chapter analyses the political and social aspects of slavery in early eighteenth century Malta and Naples, highlighting its economic importance, its diverse origins, and its decline. It explores the role slaves played in the building of the fortifications and other structures, domestic work, the maritime sector, as well as their religious and cultural integration. This chapter also explains the negotiations and intricate relationships between Malta, Naples, and other Mediterranean regions regarding the acquisition, use, and regulation of slaves. It is hoped that the present study will foster a deeper appreciation of the relationship between Hospitaller Malta and the Kingdom of Naples. This relationship has not been hitherto sufficiently researched and, in my opinion, is often side-lined by Malta’s dependency on Sicily. I have been fascinated with the vast and rich amount of archival information contained in the Grand Masters’ correspondence in the Archives of the Order of St John at the National Library of Malta in Valletta, which inspired me to explore this relationship even more. Description: M.A.(Melit.) 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144074 Title: For a cultural reading of the Italian Risorgimento in Sicily : the Euro-Mediterranean routes of Giuseppe La Farina, Carlo Gemelli, and Salvatore Chindemi 1800-1860 Abstract: This thesis examines the Sicilian Risorgimento through the biographies of three southern intellectuals and patriots who lived in southern Italy during the Bourbon monarchy of Naples in the first half of the 19th century. The focus is on the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, situated within a Euro-Mediterranean context where major powers of the time, such as Russia, the Ottoman Empire, and above all France and England, contended for the protection of the Bourbon kingdom, particularly Sicily. The study emphasizes the cultural education of three Sicilian patriots, their experiences during the cholera epidemic, the revolts of 1837, and their involvement in the Sicilian Revolution of 1848, as well as the subsequent Sicilian counterrevolution. Additionally, it explores their experiences of exile, with popular destinations including Tuscany, nearby Malta, France, Belgium, and Piedmont. Ultimately, Piedmont became the final destination for all three protagonists, where they embraced the unification efforts led by the Cavour faction and the House of Savoy, abandoning alternative solutions such as republicanism, separatism, and federalism. In terms of methodology, I employed a combination of three approaches: Mediterranean studies (New Thalassology), transnational cultural history, and the history of emotions. Description: Ph.D.(Melit.) 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z