About Maldives

History:
The early history of the Maldivians is unknown because of nonexistence of any historical evidences. Archaeological finds indicate that the islands were inhabited as early as 1500 BC, and there are tales of a legendary people called the Redin who may have been among the earliest of explorers. As there are no data exists and also there is a lack of facilities, attempts to investigate the origins of human settlement have been difficult. It is believed that permanent settlements were established around 500 BC by Aryan immigrants from the Indian subcontinent.

The early Maldivians were probably Buddhists or Hindus migrating from the Indian subcontinent. But this concept has been challenged recently and are a matter of controversy.

Since the Maldives is located along the ancient marine trade routes from the West to the East, it was inevitable that early explorers and traders found themselves stopping either willingly or unwillingly, and their influence can be seen to this day. Their records serve as a useful guide to the history of these islands. Among these travelers were the Chinese historian Ma Huan and the famous Arab traveler Ibn Batuta. It is known that Maldivians themselves ventured far beyond their shores, for Pliny records that Maldivian emissaries bore gifts for the Roman Emperor.

As trade along the sea routes blossomed, the Maldives became an important stop for Arab traders on the way to the Far East, and along with these traders came the influence of Islam. The legend of the conversion to Islam remains a popular tale and a matter of recent controversy. It is believed that a Moroccan traveler, Abu Barakaat Yusuf al-Barbary was responsible for this conversion, but another version credits Sheikh Yusuf Shamsuddin of Tabriz, a renowned scholar, for this deed.

From very early times, these islands were famous for two products, the money cowrie cyprea moneta and Maldive Fish. The cowrie was prized as a form of currency in many areas of the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, and the Maldives was the Mint of the region. Large quantities of the cowrie were exported all over the world, and traders would call over to collect shiploads in exchange for rice, spices and luxury items. Maldive Fish was produced by boiling, smoking, curing and drying tuna to yield a nutritious, ebony-colored and textured fillet with astonishing keeping qualities. It was an ideal source of protein for carrying on long sea voyages, and its rarity made it a prized delicacy in most of the Indian subcontinent, where it is a major ingredient in many dishes.

The importance of the Maldives to early explorers in the 16th and 17th centuries can be seen in the grossly exaggerated size of the islands in relation to nearby Sri Lanka and India on maps of the time. The tranquility of the islands was often disturbed by pirates and the superpowers of the day. A Portuguese invasion resulted in their capture of the Maldives for a period of fifteen years after which they were overthrown by a mixture of early guerilla tactics and the difficulty of logistical support for the occupying forces.

With the growth of British influence and the expansion of their Empire, the Maldives became a British protectorate, in an unusual arrangement where the British ensured the defense of the islands yet were not involved in any way with the running of the country. The close relationships with the British ensured a period of peace and freedom from foreign interference. During the Second World War, The British had forward bases in the north and south of the archipelago and, in 1957, the RAF established a base in Gan in the south. This airbase closed in 1976.

The Maldives became a fully independent nation on July 26, 1965, and a Republic on November 11, 1968.

Best Season, Climate, and Clothing:
Maldives islands experience tropical; hot, humid and dry climate. The northeast monsoon hits from November to March and the southwest monsoon from June to August. Dress is generally casual. T-shirts and cotton clothing are most suitable. In Male', the capital island and other inhabited islands it is recommended that women wear modest clothing without baring too much.