Gran Canaria History

The Guanches lived on a very non civilized level – verified by their unsophisticated tools and weapons found on the island – mostly in caves and under rock spurs. The most civilised achievement were ceramic ware recipients modelled without the use of potter’s wheel.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Europe set aside the Canary Islands for almost a whole century. It was only until Mediterranean sailors rediscovered the Canaries  in the early 14th century, that all 30.000 Guanches on the island of Gran Canaria lived a peaceful life. Then this changed rapidly, as throughout the 14th century the Italians, Portuguese and Catalans sent their ships to the islands to come back with  slaves and furs to their countries. In the beginning of the 15th century the drastic  process of the conquest of the islands had already began.

The Guanches in Gran Canaria fought back strongly  the Spanish invators but in 1483 Pedro de Vera accomplished the conquest that Juan Réjon had started five years ago. Many Guanches were killed or committed suicide instead of surrendering to the Spanish. Those who survived were forced into became slaves and change their believes to Christianity and soon started to die out.