Maldives History

History
Maldives comprises a territory spanning roughly 115 sq miles, the Maldives is one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states as well as the smallest Asian country by land area and population

The Maldives archipelago is the world's lowest country, with even its highest natural point being the lowest in the world, 7 ft 10 in. Due to the consequent risks posed by rising sea levels, the government pledged in 2009 to make the Maldives a carbon-neutral country by 2019.

Islam was introduced to the Maldivian archipelago in the 12th century which was consolidated as a sultanate, developing strong commercial and cultural ties with Asia and Africa. From the mid 16th-century, the region came under the increasing influence of European colonial powers, with the Maldives becoming a British protectorate in 1887. Independence from the United Kingdom was achieved in 1965 and a presidential republic was established in 1968.

The Maldives was a Commonwealth republic from July 1982 until its withdrawal from the Commonwealth in October 2016 in protest of international criticism of its records in relation to corruption and human rights 

Timeline
1558 - The Portuguese established a small garrison but their attempts to impose Christianity provoked a local revolt that fifteen years later drove the Portuguese out of Maldives 1796 - The British expelled the Dutch from Ceylon and included Maldives as a British protected area 1887 - The status of Maldives as a British protectorate was officially recorded in an agreement which accepted British influence over Maldivian external relations and defense while retaining home rule, which continued to be regulated by Muslim traditional institutions 1932 - Britain encouraged the development of a constitutional monarchy 1968 - Maldives was declared a republic ending the 853-year-old British monarchy 2004 - Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the Maldives were devastated by a tsunami