Maldives
Maldives comprises 1,191 islands in the Indian Ocean. The earliest
settlers were probably from southern India. Indo-European speakers
followed them from Sri Lanka in the fourth and fifth centuries BC.
In the 12th century AD, sailors from East Africa and Arab countries
came to the islands. Today, the Maldivian ethnic identity is a blend
of these cultures, reinforced by religion and language.
Originally Buddhists, Maldivians were converted to Sunni Islam in
the mid-12th century. Islam is the official religion of the entire
population. Strict adherence to Islamic precepts and close community
relationships have historically helped keep crime low and under
control. However, a growing heroin addiction problem and the
emergence of youth gangs, especially in Male, have increased the
crime rate and the incidence of street violence.
The official and common language is Dhivehi, which is related to
Sinhala, a language of Sri Lanka. The writing system is from right
to left. English is used widely in commerce and increasingly as the
medium of instruction in government schools.
Some social stratification exists on the islands. It is not rigid,
since rank is based on varied factors, including occupation, wealth,
perceived Islamic virtue, and family ties. Members of the social
elite are concentrated in Male'. |
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The early history of the Maldives is obscure. According to Maldivian
legend, a Sinhalese prince named KoiMale was stranded with his
bride--daughter of the king of Sri Lanka--in a Maldivian lagoon and
stayed on to rule as the first sultan.
Over the centuries, the islands have been visited and their
development influenced by sailors from countries on the Arabian Sea
and the Indian Ocean littorals. Mopla pirates from the Malabar
Coast--present-day Kerala state in India--harassed the islands. In
the 16th century, the Portuguese subjugated and ruled the islands
for 15 years (1558-73) before being driven away by the
warrior-patriot Muhammad Thakurufar Al-Azam.
Although governed as an independent Islamic sultanate for most of
its history from 1153 to 1968, the Maldives was a British
protectorate from 1887 until July 25, 1965. In 1953, there was a
brief, abortive attempt at a republican form of government, after
which the sultanate was re-imposed. Following independence from
Britain in 1965, the sultanate continued to operate for another 3
years. On November 11, 1968, it was abolished and replaced by a
republic, and the country assumed its present name. |
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