Originally populated Buddhist, but Islam was introduced in 1 153. It later became the Portuguese (1558), Netherlands (1654), and England (1887) colonial property. In 1965 and, the Maldives obtained independence from Britain (originally under the name "Maldive Islands "), and in 1968 the Sultanate was replaced by Republicans. However, in thirty-eight years, the Maldives only see two of President, though political restrictions have loosened somewhat recently. Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of population. It is also the smallest predominantly Muslim nation in the world.
