Chapter 11: “Colonialism in the Mirror”: An Analysis of Representations of Colonialism in School History Textbooks in Malta Before and After Independence (1964)

The British colonial experience has been fundamental in shaping popular perceptions of Malta’s more long-term history. In particular, there has often been a tendency to depict pre-British regimes (such as, in reverse chronological order, “The French,” “The Knights,” and “the Arabs”) as “colonial” regimes, even if the word itself may not be strictly applicable. The representations of foreign rulers pre-dating the British period in turn influenced Maltese perceptions of the British. Traditionally, in history textbooks, reference to “the foreigner” (“il-barrani” in Maltese) is a constant component in the narrative presented. This will be the key element that will be looked at in the present analysis.