The paradise islands of Maldives was a desolate land until the early settlers from India and Africa started to inhabit them thousands of years ago. Today the Maldives has thrived to become a proud and prosperous nation.
The early settlers
The first known settlers to make Maldives home was a prince and his wife whom the legends say, was the daughter of a king in Sri Lanka and it is also said that they are the ones who discovered this untouched lands. Later on, seafarers from Africa, Aryans from India and Sri Lanka too started to inhabit the archipelago. There is evidence for these early establishments throughout the islands of Maldives and the first settlement was believed to be established in the Raa Atoll surrounding which, several Maldives luxury resorts the likes of Baros Maldives can be found today.
Islam in the Maldives
Back in a 14th century, an Islamic scholar arrived on the island and little that the islanders knew that this would change the Maldives forever! The scholar was the person who introduced Islam to the Maldives.
Colonial invasion
Portuguese were the first Europeans to set foot on these islands and they had a keen interest in the island’s resources and subsequently, they captured the Maldives by defeating the local rulers. The Portuguese ruled the islands for 132 years till they lost the islands to the British. Later in 1965, The British had to abandon the Archipelago as the cost incurred for the British to rule the islands were far too more than the revenue they gained by selling the island’s resources.
Independence
The Maldives gained its independence on July 26th of 1965. And it was declared as a republic following its independence, by its Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir. Today the Maldives is a prosperous and beautiful nation and has become as one of the leading tourist destinations in the world.
Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world.