Maltese literature under the Knights of St John

Abstract

The presence of the Order of St John in Malta could only be expected to consolidate and develop further the cultural tradition already existing among the educated class. The fundamental aspect was Christianity, namely a religion which also assumes the role of national identification. This tradition tended to simplify matters which had nothing to do with faith in itself The older spoken language, Maltese, an originally Arabic dialect which goes back to the Arab occupation (870-1090), had no written or recognized culture of its own, and was in principle identified with illiteracy. In the late 18th century it started to gain the respect of the intelligentia and to be used for literary purposes on an ever-widening scale. Christianity and Latinity actually embody the more evident features of the island's cultural identity. The Order of St John, therefore, had no added problems of a strictly cultural nature when it arrived in Malta and established itself as the sole protagonist in both political and cultural affairs. It could easily insert itself within the pre-existent pattern of behaviour and thought and further enhance it by attracting the attention of Maltese men of culture.