The ancient history of Maldives is a mixture of fact and legend. Our history has been shaped and molded with the ebb and flow of time and tide.

The Maldives has been influenced by the major civilizations of the world. The Phoenicians, Egyptians and Mesopotamians have passed through the islands during ancient times each leaving their mark.

The famous Cowry shell from Maldives once used as currency in different parts of the world has been found in the ruins of the ancient port of Lothal of the Indus Valley dating back to 1400 BC. Thor Heyerdahl the famous archeologist writes that the Maldives was first settled by sun-worshipping seafarers known as ‘Redin’, as early as 2500 BC, before Buddhism and later Islam changed the religious landscape of the country.

The Maldives was invaded by Portuguese in 1558 and ruled by them until 1573, continuously raided by Malabars from South West India during the 17th and 18th centuries and eventually invaded by them in 1752. Although the Malabar rule was short-lived the raids continued. The Sultans sought protection first from the French at first and then in 1887 signed a protectorate agreement with the British.

The Maldives gained independence on July 26, 1965. Small as it is the Maldives has always maintained independence and a strong unity despite influences and threats from outside. They are now an internationally renowned country, a member of the UN, WHO, SAARC, Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement and others and play an important role in advocating the security of small nations and the protection of the environment.