Transport in the Maltese Islands 1850-1890

Abstract

Transport is important, as it reflects both special and economic history. Certainly it is the mode of transport, slow compared to the age which gave the characteristic touch to ancient times when there was no need to travel fast. The horse or the ass remained in widespread use in Europe mainly up to the 19th century. It is only when the social and economic structure that mechanized means are invented; these in the turn help to speed up economic and social progress. In fact transport and progress may be two factors which are directly correlated. At this point a brief description of the situation in Malta in the centuries prior to the nineteenth would perhaps bring into perspective what is to be aimed to be illustrated later on. Certainly Malta up to 1530 was mainly an agricultural society. From time immemorial the inhabitants engaged themselves in agriculture and textile industry. Cicero mentions Malta as renowned for "pluralism vestem Melitensem." During the Roman Era the North Western and South Western were the only inhabited parts of the Island. A network system of roads existed, similar to the field paths and tracks still existing up to this day - "roads" good enough to enable the farmer and his mule to go to another nearbly village and barter his goods. Essentially this predominant state of transport remained up to 1565 during which time Malta was served by small vessels plying between Grand Harbour and Sicily bringing foodstuffs and providing the sole link between Malta and the rest of the known world.