Conquest
This collection connects articles, events and figures explaining the transition from Indigenous Canarian societies to the archipelago’s incorporation into the European Atlantic world.
Conquest and Indigenous resistance
A collection on European arrival, Indigenous resistance and the transformation of island society.
Articles to follow
Indigenous Canarians: The First Inhabitants of the Canary Islands
An overview of the origins, social organization and culture of the Indigenous Canarians, the first settlers of the Canary Islands, who arrived from North Africa.
The Legacy of Indigenous Canarians: A Story of Resistance
Discover how Indigenous Canarians left a legacy of resistance and adaptation in the face of European conquest.
The Norman Conquest of 1402
The expedition of the Norman Jean de Bethencourt in 1402 marks the beginning of the European conquest of the Canary Islands, starting with Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
The Impact of Colonization on Indigenous Canarian Societies: Transformation and Resistance
European colonization radically transformed Indigenous Canarian societies, dismantling their cultures and economies, but also sparked resistance and cultural blending.
Timeline milestones
c. 1000–500 BCArrival of the first Berber settlers from North Africa and development of pre-Hispanic culture across the islands.1402Beginning of the European conquest with Jean de Béthencourt's expedition to Lanzarote.1478Completion of the conquest of Gran Canaria by the Crown of Castile.1496Conquest of Tenerife and La Palma, completing the incorporation of the islands into Castile.
Related figures
History
Bencomo
Mencey of Taoro
1495
Meet figures
History
Tanausú
King of Aceró
c. 1493
Meet figures
History
Guanarteme Tenesor Semidán
Guanarteme of Gáldar
documented during the conquest of Gran Canaria
Meet figures
History
Guayarmina Semidán
Figure of the Guanarteme house
siglo XV
Meet figures
History
Jean de Béthencourt
Norman conqueror
c. 1360/1362 - 1425
Meet figuresKey terms
GuancheStrict term for the Indigenous population of Tenerife. For the whole archipelago, use “Indigenous Canarians”, “ancient Canarians” or “pre-Hispanic population of the Canary Islands”.MenceyatoAn Indigenous political unit of Tenerife ruled by a mencey before the Castilian conquest.AdelantadoA military and political office used in Castilian expansion and linked to conquest and territorial government.AmazighName used for North African peoples and languages linked to the Indigenous settlement of the Canary Islands.
Linked sources
- Fray Juan de Abreu Galindo — Historia de la conquista de las siete islas de Gran Canaria (1632), pp. 28-40 Memoria Digital de Canarias — ULPGCView bibliographic record
- Roberto Gil Hernández — Los guanches: conquista y anticonquista del archipiélago canario (2015)View bibliographic record
- Roberto Gil Hernández — Los guanches: conquista y anticonquista del archipiélago canario (2015), pp. 8-15 Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de La LagunaView bibliographic record
- Roberto Gil Hernández — Los guanches: conquista y anticonquista del archipiélago canario (2015), pp. 36-67 Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de La LagunaView bibliographic record
- View bibliographic record
- Zebensui López Trujillo — Historia y Patrimonio de Canarias, Vol. 1: Las primeras poblaciones de Canarias (2020), pp. 5-11 Gobierno de CanariasView bibliographic record
- David Ruiz — Tema 2: La Conquista de las Islas CanariasView bibliographic record