The role of Malta in prehistoric Mediterranean exchange networks

Abstract

The Maltese archipelago, made up of five small islands, is located almost exactly in the middle of the Mediterranean. From the Phoenician period to the modern day, Malta, because of its central location and excellent harbors, has been integral to pan-Mediterranean exchange, communication, and military endeavors. However, the earliest long-distance Mediterranean trade networks between east and west barely reached these islands. This thesis investigates long term trends in prehistoric Maltese exchange networks in order to illuminate how and why the Maltese did not participate more actively in early exchange networks. It also explores the nature of Bronze Age exchange networks between the eastern and central Mediterranean from the often overlooked perspective of the periphery.