History Of Gran Canaria

While historians are in some disagreement about the exact origin of the island’s inhabitants, it is believed that the island of Gran Canaria already had settlers as early as 500 BC. There is agreement, however, on the point that the Guanches, who are noted as the island’s earliest residents, originally came from North Africa and were in fact descendants of the race known as the Berbers. The Guanches were primitive people, capable of fashioning basic tools and weapons to aid them in their daily existence.

The Guanches

The Romans were the next to make their mark on Gran Canaria and they remained occupants until the fall of the Empire, which led to a period of diminished interest in the island for nearly 1,000 years. During this time, the Guanches lived peacefully without fear from aggressors; however, everything changed when Italian, Portuguese and Catalan explorers decided to pillage the island, enslaving the Guanches and beginning the process that gradually saw all of the Canaries conquered.

The Guanches weren’t keen to relinquish their land and freedom, and they fought fiercely against Spanish aggressors; however, in 1483, Spanish forces led by Pedro de Vera took complete control in an invasion begun by Juan Réjon some five years earlier. The Guanche population was greatly reduced by the invasion and those that remained were enslaved and forced to convert to Christianity. This marked the beginning of the end for the Guanche race. 

Spanish rule

The island’s capital city, Las Palmas, was founded on the 24th of June 1478 and was initially given status as the capital of the Canaries. Two years later, its importance was usurped by Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which was officially named the capital of the province of the Canary Islands. It wasn’t until 1927 that its importance was reinstated, but even then it was only recognised as the capital of the eastern portion of the province. In 1993, the island became a fully integrated member of the European Union.