This Blog Entry will focus on the people of Malta who built
the temple complex known as Ggantija. These people first arrived on the island
of Gozo, around the year in history 5200 B.C. It is believe that they came here
in this time only because it became feasible to do so then. The islands small
size and low relief caused the sea between Gozo and the mainland to go black at
night. One would have had to cross blindly for about 100 kilometers before
making it to the island. It is theorized that the forest fires on the island of
Gozo could have alerted people of the island present; however they still needed
more developed technology to reach it. It is also believed that the island was
considered a low priority due to the natural fertile land of the mainland
produces to need to seek alternative land.
These
people’s first displays of culture appear to have similarities with those of
the Monte Kronio. This leads us to believe that they had contact with or came
from the people of eastern Sicily. They followed what became known as Ghar
Dalam culture. They lived in rock shelters with open dwellings. This is a similar pattern to
the Ggantija temples. Mostly farmers, they grew wheat, barley, and lentils.
They fished and hunted to supplement their food sources but mainly farmed.
These people saw the sea as more are an isolation factor and a means of
security rather than a food source or means of trade. This is so, because the
lack of resources made it so that the island was undesirable and saw very
little travel. This culture evolved into the Grey Skorba culture sometime between
4500-4400 B.C., and into the Red Skorba culture between 4400-4100 B.C.
After this
point the island of Gozo entered what became known as the Temple period when
the complex of Ggantija was built. The first eight hundred years of this period
are known as the Zebbug and Mgarr phases. These two phases did not yield any
temples but played a critical rule in there later development. This time period had major advances in
agriculture. This allowed Neolithic community to provide a surplus of food.
This allowed the community to become healthier and phosphorus. With wealth came
a more complex social hierarchy, with leadership in religious, cultural and
community affairs. The cultural and commercial contact with the mainland of
Sicily did little but added to the national wealth. The Isolation of the sea
gave them a change to develop internally and create the Megalithic monuments
characteristic of the Temple Period. The complexity of each of these temples,
with unique plans and structures, is one of mankind’s earliest achievements.
Not
much is known about the Malta who built these complex structures of why there
culture is disappeared. It is believed that the reason this is gone, is due to their
legacy of these temples. The amount of timber that used in the construction of these
sanctuaries is astounding. In order to acquire the amount of wood needed to
produce it probably lead to deforestation, instability of climate, soil erosion, drought,
and eventual crop failure. These factors lead to war, famine and disease, which
eventually force the survivors to either leave or die.
Works Cited:
Atauz, Ayse Devrim. Trade, Piracy, and Naval Warfare in the Central Mediterranean: The Maritime History and Archaeology of Malta. Texas A&M University, 2004 United States -- TexasProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT); ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I. 29 Feb. 2012 .
Fascinating post about the Malta people. Given the history of humanity seeking out new land and resources, it is surprising to me that the island was considered not worthwhile. I do however, see the logic you have given for this argument, that of the fertile homeland and lack of technology to cross the waters efficiently.
ReplyDeleteWhen this culture did begin to inhabit the islands, why they did not seek to utilize the bountiful qualities of the seas is also startling. I would think that there would be at least some evidence of fishing, be it even minute, like just a leisure activity taken up by the more wealthy of inhabitants.
The development history of the temples is another aspect that you clearly identify as unique. I ponder what thoughts transpired in the inhabitants minds when they sought to utilize so many resources in building them. Was it really all projected by religion, or did they seek to leave something for the future, as a legacy to their civilization? Unfortunately, we may never know the answer.
When you highlight the possible environmental results of the temple constructions, I do ponder what the island may have looked like if they were not built at all. Would it be more livid, or would the environment still have changed to what it is today?
If you were to continue upon examining this culture and its successors, I would ask that you look and see if there has been any evidence found of their farming methods, be it tools or field impressions. Did they utilize irrigation techniques, or was there sufficient rainfall to warrant no need for irrigation?