Throughout history, both ancient and modern, the Maldives islands have always been a centre for trade and commerce within the Indian Ocean, which made it a convergence point for many cultures.

Cultural History

The first settlers of the Maldives were seafarers from a fairly wide range of backgrounds. Many of these ancient settlers would have arrived from African or East-African civilisations, bringing with them aspects such as the traditional drums known as boduberu.

Religion and Social Norms

Since the Maldives are a strict Muslim nation, Sharia law and many other restrictions are imposed on the citizens. One will generally have to always cover one’s shoulders and legs in more occupied areas, and avoid any kind of see-through clothing. Tourists out on holidays in the Maldives won’t have much to worry about when they are within their resorts though.

Linguistics

The national language of the Maldives is Divehi. It’s quite a unique language that isn’t spoken anywhere else. It however bears a strong resemblance to Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka.

Food

Maldivian cuisine is primarily based on the bounty of seafood found in the nation, with tuna being one of the biggest staples in the country’s dishes. You can discover iconic dishes such as mashuni in pretty much any resort in the Maldives seen on websites such as Maldives Resorts Club.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+