Europe -> Southern Europe -> Canary Islands

Gran Canaria is the third largest of the Canary Islands with an area of about 1500km² and a population of over 800,000.

Little is known about the original inhabitants of the island or where they came from. The indigenous people of the Canary Islands as a whole are most often referred to as the Guanche. Technically, though, this is the name of those that populated the island of Tenerife: the word Guanche is an abbreviation of “guanchinerfe”, which literally means the ‘man from Tenerife’. It was the first colonists who used the name as a general reference to the indigenous people of all the Canary Islands, even though the different isaldns had little interaction and distinct social differences.

To be more specific, some refer to first inhabitants of Gran Canaria as ‘Canarians.’ Tamaran, which translates as “land of the brave”, is the former name of the island, and some use this name for the original inhabitants.

The original inhabitants are thought to have arrived on the island in about 500BC, sailing there from the Atlas region of North Africa. They are thought to have been Berber in origin, descended form the Berber tribe of the Atlas mountains.

There are other theories though; one is that they were survivors from the great lost continent of Atlantis which disappeared beneath the sea (and that the Canary Islands are what were Atlantis’ highest peaks). Other historians suggest the original inhabitants arrived from Spain; or that they were of Egyptian descent, as suggested by their practise of mummifying their dead.

The Guanche of Gran Canaria are not believed to have been great seafarers, and this is backed up by the fact that they didn’t seem to travel between the various islands in the region. From tools and weapons found on the island, we can deduce that these were a primitive people who did not advance much over the years. They are thought to have been cave dwelling people, worn animal skin as clothing and survived through hunting, farming and shepherding. Pottery and earthenware was import in their society, as was religion.

The Guanche were ruled over by a king who would be ordained by a high priest and who ruled over a number of local chieftains. By the time of invasion by the Spanish in the 15^th century we know that the island was divided into two kingdoms, each ruled over by a separate king.

While social structure is thought to have been similar across the various different Grand Canary islands, it would seem that laws and attitudes were different. Gran Canaria was one of the strictest in punishment and execution was not uncommon.

One custom we do know something about, was the Guanche’s elaborate funeral rites. Corpses would be preserved by embalming and wrapping them, much like the famous mummification practised by the Egyptians.

The first visitors known to have had an influence on Gran Canaria were the Romans. It is thought they arrived on the island in about 40BC, and some remained until the fall of the Roman Empire about 500 years later. This seems to have been a peaceful time for the island with little hostility between local inhabitants and the new arrivals. From Roman artefacts found on the island it seems trade took place between the two peoples.

There are other stories involving visitors to the island. One tells that King Juba II of Morocco, then a Roman colony, visited the island around 50BC. Some say he abandoned North African prisoners on the island, who settled there alongside the local inhabitants. Juba, too, is thought to have called the island Dog Island on account of the huge savage dogs he encountered during his stay.

Gran Canaria is also thought to have been visited by the Phoenicians and also the Carthaginian captain Hanno the Navigator on his voyage along the coast of Africa.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Gran Canaria was largely forgotten about. There is evidence the Arabs arrived in about 1000AD seeking trade, but mostly the islanders remained cut off from outside influence, peacefully enjoying their ‘fortunate islands’.

The 14^th century saw the ‘rediscovery’ of the island as sailors from Italy, Portugal and Catalan arrived often in search of slaves. The main change for life on the island, though, came with the arrival of the Spanish in the early 15^th century.

The Spanish sought control of the island, yet while neighbours such as El Hierro and La Gomera succumbed at the start of the century, the people on Gran Canaria resisted fiercely and it was not until 1483 that the might of the Spanish prevailed.

The Spanish began their conquest of Gran Canaria in earnest in 1478 when the conquistador Juan Rejon landed on the island. He founded the new capital city of El Real de Las Palmas. It was, however, another five years before the Spanish could enjoy complete control of the island.

Although armed with only primitive weapons the ‘Canarios’ fought fiercely and Spanish losses were heavy. At the time the island was split into two kingdoms, ruled over by two kings, named Doromas and Thenesor Semidan. Doromas’ resistance was reportedly especially strong. Such was desire of the people not to be ruled by the Spanish that some even hurled themselves from cliffs rather than relinquish their freedom. In 1983, the hard-nosed Spanish general Pedro de Vera arrived and took control of the invasion, finally overcoming the brave resistance of the islanders. It is believed he personally saw to the end of King Doromas.

Many of the Canarios that survived were either forced into slavery or converted to Christianity and soon they died out as well as much trace of their people and way of life.

The island took on the name of Gran Canaria rather than Tamaran, and the original inhabitants were all but forgotten.

Under Spanish rule the island began to change and prosper, with the capital Las Palmas undergoing significant change. Trade was a major boost to the islands economy, and the strategic position the island enjoyed en route the many ships now sailing west to America and the New World bought significant changes. Gran Canaria, did though, receive its share of problems from pirates and also significant emigration when industries, such as in cochineal dye, collapsed.

Christopher Columbus is known to have stopped to replenish his ships in the Canary Islands before his infamous voyage west. Whether he stopped on Gran Canaria is not certain, though it is thought he may have taken some of the Canarios with him.

Gran Canaria held a high position in the Spanish ruled Canary Islands with Las Palmas becoming a capital for the islands, and the establishment of the Spanish court there in 1527. The capital did, however, later shift to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Under the 1812 Constitution of Cadiz the Canary Islands officially became a province of Spain. Half a century later this was divided into two provinces – the province of Tenerife and the province of Gran Canaria. Las Palmas became the capital of the eastern Canary province in 1927. In 1982 the Canary Islands became an Autonomous Region of Spain.

The middle of the 19^th century saw the establishment of the free port system, designed to help trading relations with the Canary Islands. The number of ships stopping at the island began to increase, significantly boosting the economy. Bananas and tobacco were the mainstay of the trading.

Around the start of the 20^th century tourism began to expand and is now the mainstay of the islands economy. The first hotel, Santa Catalina, opened on the island in 1890 and an airport arrived in 1930. Tourism was obviously interrupted by the Spanish Civil War and World War II but today Gran Canaria sees visitors from all over the world and the industry is responsible for over 30% of GDP.

Tourism has shaped the island’s history over the last century with restaurants and hotels springing up all over the island and once sleepy villages now transformed into sprawling concrete high-rises around man made beaches with music pumping out all hours. The islands population, too, has grown with the increase in jobs.