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 âguanchinerfeâ, which literally means the âman from Tenerifeâ. 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 âCanarians.â Tamaran,
which translates as âland of the braveâ, 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 Atlantisâ 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 didnât 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 15th 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 Guancheâs 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 âfortunate islandsâ.
The 14th
century saw the ârediscoveryâ 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 15th 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 âCanariosâ 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. Doromasâ 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 â" 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 19th 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 20th 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 islandâs 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.