The role of the Maltese inhabitants during the Great Siege

Abstract

With the onset of an invasion and a resulting siege, the routine and ordinary way of life in the besieged area experiences an abrupt change. Anyone in the war zone finds that new ways of thinking, indeed innovative ways of staying alive, have to be sought, as the ultimate objective is that of survival. Everyone craves for the means by which to overcome the hardships and dangers of the siege so as to be able to resume a more normal, peaceful way of life as the conflict subsides. Those that are probably less at ease and out of place in a siege are, of course, the civilians. Therefore, those who are most interested in the resumption of everyday life in the besieged area are naturally its native inhabitants.