When Malta was taken by the Arabs from North Africa in 870, these changed both the name and the size of Melite. The principal town became known as Medina or Mdina (trasl. the city) and its suburb was Rabat. They also resized and revamped the city of Malta by reducing it in area to about that it is today, also fortifying it and embellishing it.
Count Roger the Normal led an invading force from Sicily in 1090 which overwhelmed the Arab occupiers. The new administration was led from Sicily and Malta was gradually introduced to a European culture. Christianisation was also strengthened after centuries of Muslim influence.
In 1123 the Maltese islands were formally incorporated within the Sicilian Crown. Later on Malta came under Hohenstaufen rule which lasted till 1266. At this time Charles, King of Anjou, won the islands but lost them shortly after in 1282 to the Aragonese.
During the fourteenth century a series of feudal lords ruled Malta but then, by a Royal Charter of 1482, King Alfonso V confirmed the rights of the Maltese which meant that they now had their own local government based in Mdina. The Universitas consisted of the government officials who carried the day to day work of administration. The Consiglio Popolare was a local council formed of members of society which discussed local affairs but could not decide on legislation.
Malta’s partial autonomy ended in 1530 when Emperor Charles V donated the archipelago to the Order of St John.
Clothing
In Malta, as in anywhere else in Europe, clothes denoted the different social statuses. Particularly extravagant clothing could only be worn by the highest nobles and dignitaries. The Maltese, as any other people, would imitate the fashions and clothing of other countries but would still have features which brought out their identity. As Malta was closely linked to Sicily for most of the Middle Ages, it was natural that garments followed the fashion of this neighbouring island from where the Viceroy ruled over the Maltese and from where many objects and customs were imported.
The peasant wore practical and basic garments. Men of low rank wore short and tight attire which consisted of breeches or tight drawers, tight tunics or doublets, and capes or cloaks of coarse brown material. A belt was tied round the waist from which hung a knife, a purse or some tools.
High ranking women in the Late Middle Ages wore long trains to their dresses with long, hanging sleeves which were embroidered or fringed. On their head women wore headdresses consisting of very large rolls topped by a conical bonnet. Dresses were tight at the waist with full round hips facilitated by padded rolls and by a supported by a structure of padded whalebone and steel which eventually developed into panniers
Food
One of the staple foods of the Maltese during the Middle Ages was bread. Grain was imported from Sicily and bread was made and consumed by all classes of Maltese society. Another item which was popular and accessible to all was wine. It is known that wine was consumed in large quantities. Grapes were also grown locally.
Meat was derived from cows, pigs, goats and sheep. Milk products were also derived such as cheese, butter and other dairy products. Added to these, the Maltese had hens, capons, roosters and other fowl from which, besides their meat, they also took the eggs.
Malta being an island had also a thriving fishing activity which supplied fresh fish to the population. Part of the catch was salted both for future consumption and for export. As salted fish cost less than the fresh product, the poorer classes could afford it more and thus included it in their diet.
Honey was also a product extensively utilised by the people. This came wither through beekeeping by the locals or through importation from Sicily and Italy. There is also a hint that some sugar was already consumed by a few during the late Middle Ages. Other food products imported from Sicily and other places included apples. Almonds and carobs. Other food items which were available in Malta were oil, dried fruit, rice, beans, and barley.
Many of the owners of animals and fields lived in Mdina where the wealthy class resided.
Daily Life
Medieval life in Malta was very similar to that in other European countries. Poverty was quiet extensive. Yet some others were quite wealthy and many of these resided in the main town of Mdina. Here was the cathedral of Malta, the palaces and large houses of the nobles and well-to-do, the court of laws, the palace were the local government (called the Universitas) deliberated and took decisions and discussed rules and regulations.
The population of Malta towards the end of the fifteenth century is calculated to have been around 17,000. Of these about 3 per cent were Jews who occupied esteemed positions and practiced important professions in Maltese society. Doctors, surgeons and pharmacists were among these. In Mdina the Jews had there synagogue and their living quarter.
Health was taken care of by the Church and the Universitas. In Rabat there was Santu Spirito hospital, which not only offered cure for the sick, but also accepted abandoned babies that were placed in a revolving window in the façade of the hospital from where they were taken and registered with unknown parents.
Moral laxity was common and men of all ranks, but mostly those from among the nobles, the feudal lords, the priests, and the professionals who lived in the towns and in Mdina, peppered their lives with adventurous forays with prostitutes. Some also had concubines.
To defend the Maltese islands there was a system of militia duties which engaged all men between 16 and 60 to take turns and do guard duties (called maħras) around the coast against eventual corsair attacks mainly form Muslim countries. Other military duties called on men to join the local armed contingent from each village (called dejma) which would be called if Malta was threatened by an attack or razzia.
