MALTA 马耳他中英双语介绍
History
Phoenicians colonized the islands of Malta at around 1000 BC. In 736 BC, the islands were occupied by the Greeks, Carthage (400 BC) and then Rome. The islands prospered under Roman rule. After a short spell of Byzantine rule, and a probable sack by the Vandals, the islands were conquered by the Arabs in AD 870. The period of Arab rule lasted until 1090, when the islands were taken by the Sicilian Normans, restoring Christianity again. Subquent rulers included the Anjouvines, Hohenstaufen, and the Aragone. The Malte nobility was established during this period. In 1530, the islands were given
by Spain to the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in a perpetual lea. Their reign ended when Napoleon conquered the islands in 1798.
The Malte rebelled against the French forces with the help from the Great Britain. British navy instigated a blockade of the islands. The isolated French forces surrendered in 1800, and the island became a British protectorate. In 1814, Malta became a part of the British Empire. In the 1930s, due to Malta’s cultural and geographical proximity to Italy, the British Mediterranean Fleet was moved to Alexandria. Malta played an important role during World War II, owing to its vicinity to Axis shipping lanes, and its people’s bravery led to the awarding of the George
Cross now en on its flag.
After the war, and after a short spell of political instability, Malta was granted independence on 21 September 1964 (Independence Day). Under its 1964 constitution, Malta initially retained Queen Elizabeth II as sovereign of Malta, with a Governor-General exercising executive authority on her behalf. On 13 December 1974 it became a republic within the Commonwealth, with the President as head of state. A defence agreement signed soon after Independence (and re-negotiated in 1972) expired on 31 March 1979 (Freedom Day) when the British military forces were withdrawn. Malta joined the European Union (EU) on 1 May 2004.
历史
腓基尼人对马耳他的统治始于公元前1000年，随后马耳他又分别被希腊人（公元前736年）、迦太基人(公元前400年)、罗马人占领。它在罗马人的统治下逐渐繁荣起来。经过拜占庭人的短暂统治和汪达尔人的洗劫，公元870年，马耳他被阿拉伯人占领。其统治一直持续到1090年，马耳他被西西里岛的诺曼底人接管，基督教也随之开始复兴。之后的统治者包括Anjouvines, Hohenstaufen和阿拉贡（Aragone）。马耳他人的高贵气质就是在这一时期形成的。1530年，西班牙人把马耳他岛永久租给了耶路撒冷圣・约翰骑士团，直到1798年, 被拿破仑攻占。
在大英帝国的帮助下，马耳他人开始反抗法兰西统治者。英国海军采取封锁战术。法兰西军队被孤立，并于1800年投降，马耳他岛成为英国的摄政国。1814年，马耳他岛沦为大英帝国的殖民地。由于
马耳他的文化、地理环境和意大利相似，上世纪30年代，生活在地中海的英国居民迁移到了亚历山大大帝统治时
期的地区。因为接近海战航线的轴心地区，马耳他在二战中扮演了重要的角色。国民的勇敢被英国授予它国旗上的乔治十字架（George Cross）。
二战后，马耳他经历了一系列政治上的不稳定，1964年9月21日（独立日）获得独立。根据1964年的宪法，马耳他最初立女王伊丽莎白二世为君主，由总行政长官代表女王行使政权。1974年12月13日该国成立了联邦共和国，总统为国家元首。在1979年3月31日（自由日），英国国防军撤退，独立后不久签订的防御协议（1972年再次协商）也就此终止。马耳他在2004年5月1日加入欧盟。
Geography
The Republic of Malta is a small and denly-populated island nation in southern Europe. Malta is an archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, some 93 km south of Sicily (Italy) and north of Africa. Malta is the smallest EU country in terms of both population and area. Only the three largest islands Malta Island (Malta), Gozo (Għawdex), and Comino (Kemmuna) are inhabited. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The landscape is characterid by low hills with terraced fields. The highest point, which even many locals have no ide
a how to locate, is the Ta" Dmejrek on Malta Island at 253m.
地理
马耳他共和国是欧洲南部一个人口密集的小国。它是位于地海中部的群岛，距意大利南部和北非约93公里。就人口和面积而言，马耳他是欧盟中最小的国家。只有马耳他岛（Malta）、戈佐岛(Għawdex)和科米诺岛(Kemmuna)这三个最大的岛上有人居住。沿着犬牙交错的岛屿海岸线的无数海湾，形成了
天然良港。这里风景得主要特色是环绕平地的小山丘。最高点Ta" Dmejrek，位于马耳他岛，海拔253米处，甚至许多当地人都不知道它的具体位置所在。
Political System
The unicameral Hou of Reprentatives (Kamra tar-Rappreż e ntanti) is elected by direct universal suffrage through single transferable vote every five years unless the Hou is dissolved earlier by the President on advice of the Prime Minister. However, where a party manages an absolute majority of votes, but not of ats, that party is given additional ats to ensure a parliamentary majority. The Parliamentary system is cloly modeled on the Westminster system. The President of the Republic is elected every five years by the Hou of Reprentatives.
政治体系
马耳他实行一院制议会制度，议员通过每五年一次的全民投票选举直接产生，如果总理建议解散议会，而又经过总统同意，即可解散议会。如果一个政党获得了绝大多数选票但在议会中不占多数席位时，可以被给予额外的席位以确保议会的主导地位。这种议会制度是模仿了英国议会制度。马耳他共和国的总统每五年由议院代表选举产生。
Education System
Education is compulsory between the ages of 5 to 16 years. The state provides education free of charge, while the church and the private ctor run a number of schools in Malta and Gozo. Primary education lasts for six years. There are two types of condary education schools: junior Lyceums and area condary schools. Studies last for five years are divided into a two-year orientation cycle and a three-year cycle
of specialization. At the end of this cycle, pupils sit for the Secondary Education Certificate. Upper Lyceums and sixth forms prepare pupils for the Matriculation Certificate which gives access to university. Since 1994/95, the first cycle in area condary schools is of three instead of two years" duration, while the cond cycle is of two years" duration.
Higher education is mainly provided by the University of Malta. The governing body is the Council, which acts on the advice of the Senate but which also has responsibility for appointing faculty staff, promulgating regulations, overeing and approving expenditures and ensuring that the University responds to the needs of the country.
教育体系
5至16岁的孩子必须接受强制性教育。由国家提供的教育是免费。教会和私人机构管理也在马耳他岛（Malta）和戈佐岛（Gozo）开办一些学校。初级教育有六年。中级教育包括两种学校：初级学院和地区中级学校。学制五年分为两年基础教育和三年专业教育。学业结束，学生可获得中级教育证书。高等学院和第六种教育形式为学生获取大学录取通知书进入大学学习做准备。从1994/95年开始，地区中级学院的第一阶段学习由两年改为三年制，而第二阶段则改为两年制。高等教育主要由马耳他大学提供。它的管理主体是理事会。理
