The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as Maldive Islands, is a country and
archipelagic state in
South Asia in the
Indian Ocean. The Maldives is named after the main island and capital,
Malé. The Maldives is southwest of
Sri Lanka and
India, about 750 kilometres (470 miles; 400 nautical miles) from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of
26 atolls stretches across the
equator from
Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to
Addu Atoll in the south.
The Maldives has been inhabited for over 2,500 years. Documented contact with the outside world began around 947 AD when
Arab travellers began visiting the islands. In the 12th century, partly due to the importance of the Arabs and
Persians as traders in the Indian Ocean,
Islam reached the Maldivian Archipelago. The Maldives was soon 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 came in 1965, and a
presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected
People's Majlis. The ensuing decades have seen political instability, efforts at democratic reform, and environmental challenges posed by
climate change and rising sea levels. The Maldives became a founding member of the
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
The Maldives is a member of the
United Nations, the
Commonwealth of Nations, the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the
Non-Aligned Movement. The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an upper-
middle income economy. The Maldives is a Dialogue Partner of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Fishing has historically been the dominant economic activity, and remains the largest sector by far, followed by the rapidly growing
tourism industry. The Maldives rates "high" on the
Human Development Index, with per capita income significantly higher than other SAARC nations. The Maldives was a member of the
Commonwealth of Nations from July 1982 until withdrawing from the organisation in October 2016 in protest of allegations by other nations of its
human rights abuses and failing democracy. The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular support. (Full article...)
Muhammed Ghiya'as ud-din (Muhammed Manikufaanu, died 8 October 1774), the son of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar II, was the
sultan of the
Maldives from 1766 to 1773. As per the will of his predecessor
Dhon Bandaarain, Muhammed Manifufaanu ascended the throne and reigned as Sultan Al-Haj Muhammed Ghiya'as ud-din Iskandar Sri Kula Sundara Maha Radun. He was the last sultan of the
Dhiyamigili Dynasty; he was deposed while away on a pilgrimage, and later, on his return trip he drowned, or was murdered by
Kalhu Bandaarain. (Full article...)
The following are images from Maldives-related articles on Wikipedia.
Image 1Each administrative atoll is marked, along with the
thaana letter used to identify the atoll. Natural atolls are labelled in light blue. (from Maldives)
Image 2Kashimaage Hakimatu, daughter of an excellent master carpenter boatbuilder, 1983. Fuvahmulah Island (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 17A plaque in
Hukuru Mosque, Malé, Maldives, placed by
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar on which Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari's name is written. His last name is also read as "at-Tabrizi" instead of "al-Barbari". (from History of the Maldives)
Image 35Judaage Aminat Didi in 1982, wearing the simple customary libaas worn by all southern Maldivian women before the modern islamification promoted by President Maumoon. First "burugaa" headscarf reached Fuvahmulah only in 1989. (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 47The tsunami that struck Malé on 26 December 2004. Photo taken by Sofwathulla Mohamed while standing on his doorstep. His apartment was entirely washed out damaging all his belongings. (from History of the Maldives)
As-Sulṭaan al-Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A'uẓam or As-Sultan Ghazi Muhammad Bodu Thakurufaanu (
Dhivehi: އައްސުލްޠާން އަލްޣާޒީ މުޙައްމަދު ތަކުރުފާނު އަލްއަޢުޡަމް; died 18 August 1585) ruled over the
Maldives Islands from 1573 to 1585. He is known for fighting the
Portuguese who ruled over the Maldives from 1558–1573 after killing Sultan Ali VI in
Malé. His victory is commemorated in the Maldives as Qaumee Dhuvas or National Day. He was also the first Maldivian Sultan to form a
Lashkaru (a unified military body). He is regarded as a
national hero. (Full article...)
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as Maldive Islands, is a country and
archipelagic state in
South Asia in the
Indian Ocean. The Maldives is named after the main island and capital,
Malé. The Maldives is southwest of
Sri Lanka and
India, about 750 kilometres (470 miles; 400 nautical miles) from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of
26 atolls stretches across the
equator from
Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to
Addu Atoll in the south.
The Maldives has been inhabited for over 2,500 years. Documented contact with the outside world began around 947 AD when
Arab travellers began visiting the islands. In the 12th century, partly due to the importance of the Arabs and
Persians as traders in the Indian Ocean,
Islam reached the Maldivian Archipelago. The Maldives was soon 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 came in 1965, and a
presidential republic was established in 1968 with an elected
People's Majlis. The ensuing decades have seen political instability, efforts at democratic reform, and environmental challenges posed by
climate change and rising sea levels. The Maldives became a founding member of the
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
The Maldives is a member of the
United Nations, the
Commonwealth of Nations, the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the
Non-Aligned Movement. The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an upper-
middle income economy. The Maldives is a Dialogue Partner of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Fishing has historically been the dominant economic activity, and remains the largest sector by far, followed by the rapidly growing
tourism industry. The Maldives rates "high" on the
Human Development Index, with per capita income significantly higher than other SAARC nations. The Maldives was a member of the
Commonwealth of Nations from July 1982 until withdrawing from the organisation in October 2016 in protest of allegations by other nations of its
human rights abuses and failing democracy. The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020 after showing evidence of functioning democratic processes and popular support. (Full article...)
Muhammed Ghiya'as ud-din (Muhammed Manikufaanu, died 8 October 1774), the son of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar II, was the
sultan of the
Maldives from 1766 to 1773. As per the will of his predecessor
Dhon Bandaarain, Muhammed Manifufaanu ascended the throne and reigned as Sultan Al-Haj Muhammed Ghiya'as ud-din Iskandar Sri Kula Sundara Maha Radun. He was the last sultan of the
Dhiyamigili Dynasty; he was deposed while away on a pilgrimage, and later, on his return trip he drowned, or was murdered by
Kalhu Bandaarain. (Full article...)
The following are images from Maldives-related articles on Wikipedia.
Image 1Each administrative atoll is marked, along with the
thaana letter used to identify the atoll. Natural atolls are labelled in light blue. (from Maldives)
Image 2Kashimaage Hakimatu, daughter of an excellent master carpenter boatbuilder, 1983. Fuvahmulah Island (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 17A plaque in
Hukuru Mosque, Malé, Maldives, placed by
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar on which Abu al-Barakat Yusuf al-Barbari's name is written. His last name is also read as "at-Tabrizi" instead of "al-Barbari". (from History of the Maldives)
Image 35Judaage Aminat Didi in 1982, wearing the simple customary libaas worn by all southern Maldivian women before the modern islamification promoted by President Maumoon. First "burugaa" headscarf reached Fuvahmulah only in 1989. (from Culture of the Maldives)
Image 47The tsunami that struck Malé on 26 December 2004. Photo taken by Sofwathulla Mohamed while standing on his doorstep. His apartment was entirely washed out damaging all his belongings. (from History of the Maldives)
As-Sulṭaan al-Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A'uẓam or As-Sultan Ghazi Muhammad Bodu Thakurufaanu (
Dhivehi: އައްސުލްޠާން އަލްޣާޒީ މުޙައްމަދު ތަކުރުފާނު އަލްއަޢުޡަމް; died 18 August 1585) ruled over the
Maldives Islands from 1573 to 1585. He is known for fighting the
Portuguese who ruled over the Maldives from 1558–1573 after killing Sultan Ali VI in
Malé. His victory is commemorated in the Maldives as Qaumee Dhuvas or National Day. He was also the first Maldivian Sultan to form a
Lashkaru (a unified military body). He is regarded as a
national hero. (Full article...)