History of the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are thought to be only around 30 million years old. That may sound old but in geological terms is very young. The volcanoes that form the Islands appeared around the same sort of time as the Atlas Mountains were formed. Lending more support for the theory that the islands may have broken away from mainland Africa, then grew through volcanic eruptions.
The Canary Islands have been the starting point for sailors aiming for the Caribbean or South America ever since Columbus did it more than 500 years ago and still are today. As does the ARC whichu leaves the Islands for Saint Lucia every year. They were also an important stop over for vessels heading for the Cape of Good Hope and beyond. But before then the early inhabitants of the islands suggest an early Egyptian connection.
The Islands were named "Fortunate" by the first European visitors and were used for trade especially for timber the dye Orchil.
About BC60 an expedition was sent to the islands by King Juba II of Mauritania (Morocco). The troops found large dogs roaming the islands and brought two of them back to the king. The typical Canarian dogs are now much smaller but the Roman name Insulae Canium - "The island of Dogs" is still used today as Islas Canarias.
The original inhabitants of the Canary Islands were the Guanches and the Canarios, an aboriginal people. "Guan Chenech" actually means 'Man from Chenech', or Tenerife. As time passed the term Guanches became identified with all the native people of the Canaries.
It is stated that the Guanches were a "very beautiful white race, muscular, tall and with many blondes among their people". There have been many suggestions as to where they originated. These suggestions have ranged from Celtic immigrants from mainland Portugal and Spain to Norse invaders (an explanation for the blonde hair and blue eyes!)
The Guanches relied on limited farming, herding, hunting and gathering, and the majority of them lived in caves, and until this date some are still inhabited. Since no metal ores are found on the Canary Islands, the Guanches had a virtually Stone Age society. Weapons, tools and kitchenware were made from wood, stone and clay.
Arab sailors landed on the islands around 999AD to trade, followed by French, Genoese, Portuguese and others. The islanders though had little knowledge of navigation and few boats so no interisland communication except between islands in line of sight apparently took place. At this time the Islanders were primarily cave dwellers using crude tools and utensils and found to be friendly. The inhabitants had their own form of whistling language for communicating across the valleys and this can still be found today especially on the islands of La Gomera and La Palma.
Lanzarote which was originally called Titerougatra is said to have taken its name from a Genoese nobleman Lancellotto Malocello when he was charting the islands in the 14th century. Another theory is that a Norman Baron Jaun de Bethancourt while in the service of the Spanish crown in 1402 broke his lance while trying to subdue the inhabitants and cried the equivalent of "Lance Broken".
De Bethancourt went on to conquer Fuerteventura in 1405 and later El Hierro. At the same time they made an attempt on La Gomera but were met with resistance which lasted for the next 80 years. The other islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria and La Palma were even more difficult to quell and it wasn't until 1495 that superior numbers and weapons finally saw the end of resistance at the battle of Acentejo on Tenerife on the 25th December. At the time attempts were made to transport the locals back to Spain as slaves but Queen Isabella Catolica returned the islanders and thus began a successful cooperation between Europe and the Canarian peoples.
In 1492, after repairs, Christopher Columbus set sail to discover the new world. He returned to the islands' several times reportedly to visit the beautiful widow Beatriz de Bobadilla who he had first met at the Spanish court. So the Canaries became a useful staging post for Trans Atlantic vessels. Because of their proximity to the African coast Fuerteventura and Lanzerote were often attacked by pirates and slavers, not to mention the Dutch and English. Drake suffered the loss of his flagship during one attack and two centuries later Nelson lost his arm when leading an attack on Santa Cruz.
In 1822 the Canaries became a province of Spain. In 1853 the islands were declared a free trade area. Santa Cruz, on Tenerife was declared the capital of the archipelago but in 1927 the islands were divided into two provinces with Las Palmas, on Gran Canaria being given the status of capital of the eastern province.
General Franco was made military governor of the islands in 1936 and used his time to plan the nationalist revolt that led to the Spanish Civil War.
Since the 1960's the islands have embraced tourism which has increased year on year until now the tourist trade accounts for around 65% of the islands industry with maina tourism and yachting playing an important role. Other industries such as fishing and agriculture, primarily due to EU beaurocracy, are in decline.
Brief Time Line
- 1405 - Fuerteventura, the French Juan de Béthencourt conquered El Hierro and La Gomera for the Spanish crown.
- 1478 - The natives of Gran Canaria suffered a massive blow in their defence of the island in and Las Palmas was founded.
- 1485 - Las Palmas became the residency of the Catholic Bishop.
- 1527 - The Spanish Court established in Las Palmas. This underlined the special position of Gran Canaria before the other islands of the archipelago.
- 1820 - Las Palmas became capital of Gran Canaria.
- 1822 - Santa Cruz de Tenerife became capital of the province of the Canary Islands and Gran Canaria lost its importance.
- 1927 - "Las Palmas de Gran Canaria" becomes a capital again, but this time only of the eastern province of the Canary Islands.
- 1936 - General Franco was made military governor of the islands and used his time here to plan the nationalist revolt that led to the Spanish Civil War.
- 1993 - The Canaries were fully integrated in the EC.
All the Canary Islands have good, well sheltered marinas which are protected from the prevailing northerly winds. Some marinas can be exposed though when the wind shifts round to the south. Nowadays Yacht charter are also popular and more marinas and companies chartering yachts are relalising the benefits of the all round summer climate of the Canary Islands
Useful Links
http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/?gclid=CPvykIe_vaICFdGX2AodnjT15g
http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/tourism-office/la-gomera-island/
