Malta, officially known as the Republic of Malta (), is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. It lies south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The country covers just over , with a population of just under 450,000, making it one of the world's smallest and most densely populated countries. The capital of Malta is Valletta, which at 0.8 km, is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area. Malta has one national language, which is Maltese, and English as an official language. 

Malta's location in the middle of the Mediterranean has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base, and a succession of powers, including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, French, and British have ruled the islands. 

King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to Malta in 1942 for the then British colony's bravery in the Second World War. The George Cross continues to appear on Malta's national flag. Under the Malta Independence Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1964, Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom as an independent sovereign Commonwealth realm, officially known from 1964 to 1974 as the State of Malta, with Elizabeth II as its head of state. The country became a republic in 1974, and although no longer a Commonwealth realm, remains a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations. Malta was admitted to the United Nations in 1964 and to the European Union in 2004; in 2008, it became part of the Eurozone.
Where is Malta?
What is north of it?
Why was Malta's location important?
Who were the succession of powers?
What is the offical language?
What is their native language?
What happened in 1942?
for what?
when did malta became offical?
what happened in 2008?
When was it admitted to UN?
in the Mediterranean Sea
Malta, officially known as the Republic of Malta (), is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea
Italy
It lies south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya
it is a strategic Naval location
Malta's location in the middle of the Mediterranean has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base
they  included the Phoenicians and Carthaginians,
a succession of powers, including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, 
English
Malta has one national language, which is Maltese, and English as an official language. 

Maltese
Malta has one national language, which is Maltese
they were awarded the George Cross
King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to Malta in 1942
bravery
King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to Malta in 1942 for the then British colony's bravery
unknown
unknown
Malta became part of the Eurozone.
Malta was admitted to the United Nations in 1964 and to the European Union in 2004; in 2008, it became part of the Eurozone.
1964
Malta was admitted to the United Nations in 1964 