1. “HOW THE KNOWN WORLD HAS CHANGED
THROUGHOUT HISTORY”
Ptolemy, 1482Herodotus II century: The
Canary Islands were the
limits of the known world
(to the west).
C. Columbus, 1492. A
new continent was
discovered, “The Age
of Discoveries” had
started.
SPAIN AND THE CANARY ISLANDS

2. What was known about the
Islands in the Ancient Age?
They were identified as idyllic places, with wonderful forests and mild
weather, where fruits were abundant and pain or worries didn’t exist;
only happiness and good fortune. Heroes could come here and rest
forever, “paradise on earth”.

3. Greek and Roman authors (Hesiod, Plauto, Plato, Isidore of
Seville, Pomponio Mela) referred to these mountainous islands,
located in the limits of the known world, in the Atlantic Ocean, as
“The Elysium Fields”, “The Blessed Islands”, “Fortunate Islands”,
“Hesperides Garden”, or the remains of a sunk continent, “The
Atlantis”

4. All these classical texts are vague and it is not clear if they
are really referring to the Canary Islands or other Atlantic
ones. However all these descriptions of wonderful places,
“paradise on earth” are still used to refer to our islands
and to attract tourism, our biggest industry.

5. During the Ancient Age, tribes from the
north and the Mediterranean settled in
mainland Spain
THE CELTSABOUT
THE XII CENTURY
BC.
•They were
farmers.
•They traded with
iron.
THE PHOENICIANS
AND GREEKS ABOUT
THE XI CENTURY BC.
•Great traders: metals,
textiles,
•Excellent navigators.
THE CARTHAGINIANS
III CENTURY BC.
•Mining
•Metals
•Pottery
•Improvements in
farming

6. Who were living in the Canary
Islands?
 Very primitive people, from Berber
origin (northern Africa) who didn’t
know metals. They had cattle,
especially goats.
 Phoenician and Carthaginian
navigators explored the coast of
West Africa, looking for new
products: The Carthaginian Hanno
the Navigator , about 500 BC.
 These navigators were looking for
purple dye from a black lichen
growing on the coastal cliffs, fish,
spices, slaves…

7. At the time of the Roman Empire:
centuries I-IV
 Strabo, Plutarch, and
specially Pliny the Elder,
wrote about the plants of the
islands: ”The Fortunate
Islands” in his book “Naturalis
Historia”
 There are archaeological
remains: amphorae, etc. that
prove that Roman ships
sailed and traded on the
islands.

8. Middle Age (V-XIV)
 V-VII: The Iberian Peninsula
was invaded by Visigoths
from the north, “Germanic
tribes: rural economy
 VII-XII: Arabs from the South
conquered Spain. Trade
became important: olive oil,
wool, silk, metals, other
exotic products. (cities
became more important)
“zoco”, markets…

9. By the end of the Middle Age
 Genoese, French, Spanish noblemen financed
different expeditions to conquer the Canary
Islands. After a century the islands became part
of the Spanish kingdom, most “guanches” died.
 Lanzarote was the first to be conquered in 1402
by Gadifer de la Salle and Jean de Bethencourt.
Later he took Fuerteventura, La Gomera and El
Hierro
 The noblemen who conquered the islands got
privileges such as: land, cattle, water, slaves…
 The monarchs, Isabelle and Ferdinand finished
the conquest of the other islands: Gran Canaria,
La Palma andTenerife, by 1496.

10. Christopher Columbus
and the discovery of
America
 In 1492 Isabelle of Castile was
bold enough to finance
Christopher Columbus’
expedition to the west.
 He discovered a new continent.
 The Canary Islands became an
important trade route between
Europe,America and Africa.

11. How did the islands change
after the conquest?
 They became a colony of Castile.
 Most of the “guanche” population died or
were enslaved.
 The land was given to the conquerors. They
cut or burned dense areas of forests and
planted sugar cane, cereals, later vineyards
which were sold in Europe.
 Most entrepreneurs were foreigners. Slave
trade was also very important.
 The clergy became a powerful institution:
land, donations, churches, monasteries…

12.  Canarian harbours became very
important.
 Pirate attacks were abundant as
there were many ships full of
silver, gold and other products.
 When sugar cane was more
productive in America, crisis hit
the islands and many people had
to emigrate to America, the new
“ Land of Bounty”.
How did the discovery of
America affect the Canary
Islands?

13. XVI century
 Right after the conquest the Spanish
conquerors cut a lot of forests and
planted sugar cane. They used slaves
(aborigines and people from Africa)
because a lot of people were needed
to produce sugar. It was then sent to
Flandes, Naples and mainland Spain.
 When the colonies in South America
started producing sugar, it wasn’t
profitable on the islands, so other
products were introduced.
 There were about 35.000 inhabitants
living on the islands.

14. XVII and XVIII century
 During the XVII century wine yards were planted on the
islands. Wine trade with many European countries
became very important, especially with Great Britain.
 Then, the islands suffered another big crisis during the
XVIII century.
 After the British started buying wine from Madeira, other
products were grown in the Canary Islands. Some of
them came fromAmerica: potatoes, corn, tomatoes, etc.
 Many people emigrated to America:

15. XIX and XX
century
 Some British entrepreneurs
introduced banana
cultivation on the islands.
 They also contributed to
build the harbours on the
islands, as they were
interested in trade with
Africa.

16. THE END
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