Island Chronology of Gran Canaria

A timeline reading of the milestones that shaped its historical and cultural formation.

La cronologia insular permite seguir del mundo indigena al puerto atlantico, la ciudad moderna y la isla contemporanea.

Key points

Mundo indigena y guanartematos

Antes de la conquista, Gran Canaria se organizaba en dos grandes reinos con capitales en Galdar y Telde, con una division politica que condicionó la resistencia y la conquista.

Conquista castellana de 1478-1483

La conquista duró cinco años, con periodos de negociacion, traicion y combate, y concluyo con la rendicion de los ultimos resistentes en las cumbres.

Fundacion de Las Palmas y primer obispado

Las Palmas fue fundada en 1478 y se convirtio en sede episcopal en 1485, inicio de la proyeccion institucional de la isla en el Atlantico.

Auge del azucar y comercio atlantico

Durante el siglo XVI, la caña de azucar fue el motor economico, con ingenios en el norte y una conexion intensa con el mercado europeo y con la trata de esclavos.

Puerto de la Luz y modernizacion del XIX

La construccion del Puerto de la Luz en 1883 transformo Las Palmas en uno de los mayores puertos del Atlantico, punto de escala entre Europa y America.

Turismo masivo y crecimiento del sur

El turismo de masas llego al sur de la isla en los años 60 y 70, generando una transformacion urbanistica y social sin precedentes en Maspalomas y sus entornos.

Milestones of Gran Canaria

Arrival of the first Berber settlers from North Africa and development of pre-Hispanic culture across the islands.c. 1000–500 BCArrival of the first Berber settlers from North Africa and development of pre-Hispanic culture across the islands.Sertorius hears sailors describe two Atlantic Islands of the Blest.1st century BCSertorius hears sailors describe two Atlantic Islands of the Blest.During the reign of Juba II, an expedition surveys six Fortunate Isles and leaves its report.25 BC–AD 23During the reign of Juba II, an expedition surveys six Fortunate Isles and leaves its report.Pomponius Mela describes the Fortunatae off the African coast.mid-1st century ADPomponius Mela describes the Fortunatae off the African coast.Pliny the Elder dedicates the Natural History to Titus, transmitting accounts of the Fortunate Isles.AD 77Pliny the Elder dedicates the Natural History to Titus, transmitting accounts of the Fortunate Isles.Claudius Ptolemy takes the Fortunate Isles as the origin of longitude.2nd century ADClaudius Ptolemy takes the Fortunate Isles as the origin of longitude.Niccoloso da Recco's expedition explores the Canary Islands.July 1341Niccoloso da Recco's expedition explores the Canary Islands.John II authorises Alfonso de las Casas to conquer four Canary Islands.29 August 1420John II authorises Alfonso de las Casas to conquer four Canary Islands.Foundation of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Real de Las Palmas) by Juan Rejón.24 June 1478Foundation of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Real de Las Palmas) by Juan Rejón.The Treaty of Alcáçovas recognises Castilian rights over the Canary Islands.4 September 1479The Treaty of Alcáçovas recognises Castilian rights over the Canary Islands.San Martín Hospital is founded in Las Palmas.28 October 1481San Martín Hospital is founded in Las Palmas.The Castilian conquest of Gran Canaria ends.29 April 1483The Castilian conquest of Gran Canaria ends.Pedro de Vera promotes the introduction of sugar cane to Gran Canaria.1483Pedro de Vera promotes the introduction of sugar cane to Gran Canaria.The seat of the Diocese of the Canary Islands is transferred from Rubicón to Gran Canaria.1483The seat of the Diocese of the Canary Islands is transferred from Rubicón to Gran Canaria.Wine exports from Tenerife and La Palma begin to appear in the documentary record.c. 1520Wine exports from Tenerife and La Palma begin to appear in the documentary record.Creation of the Royal Court of the Canary Islands, based in Gran Canaria.1526-12-07Creation of the Royal Court of the Canary Islands, based in Gran Canaria.Francis Drake attacks Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.6 October 1595Francis Drake attacks Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.Pieter van der Does's Dutch fleet lays siege to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.26 June 1599Pieter van der Does's Dutch fleet lays siege to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.Droughts, famines, plagues and depopulation strike Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.1628–1671Droughts, famines, plagues and depopulation strike Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.The wine trade shapes commercial relations between the Canary Islands and England.1650–1800The wine trade shapes commercial relations between the Canary Islands and England.The Virgin of Candelaria is moved to La Laguna during a locust plague.16 November – 29 December 1659The Virgin of Candelaria is moved to La Laguna during a locust plague.4 February 1776The Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Gran Canaria is founded in Las Palmas.The Free Trade Regulations include Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Spanish-American trading system.12 October 1778The Free Trade Regulations include Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Spanish-American trading system.The Constitution of Cádiz is promulgated with Canarian representation in the Cortes.1812-03-19The Constitution of Cádiz is promulgated with Canarian representation in the Cortes.The Canary Islands become a single province with its capital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.1822-01-27The Canary Islands become a single province with its capital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.The Literary Cabinet of Las Palmas is founded.1 March 1844The Literary Cabinet of Las Palmas is founded.A royal decree declares seven free ports in the Canary Islands.11 July 1852A royal decree declares seven free ports in the Canary Islands.The Canary Islands experience one of their periods of highest modern emigration.1882–1890The Canary Islands experience one of their periods of highest modern emigration.Construction begins on the Church of San Juan Bautista in Arucas.1909-03-19Construction begins on the Church of San Juan Bautista in Arucas.The first issue of the newspaper La Provincia is published in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.1911-05-01The first issue of the newspaper La Provincia is published in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.The Island Councils Act establishes self-government for each island.1912-07-11The Island Councils Act establishes self-government for each island.The Island Council of Gran Canaria is constituted.16 March 1913The Island Council of Gran Canaria is constituted.The Canary archipelago is divided into two provinces.21 September 1927The Canary archipelago is divided into two provinces.Gando is declared a national airport.7 April 1930Gando is declared a national airport.The 1936 military uprising spreads from the Canary Islands.18 July 1936The 1936 military uprising spreads from the Canary Islands.Venezuela becomes the principal destination of a new wave of mass emigration from the Canary Islands.1948–1958Venezuela becomes the principal destination of a new wave of mass emigration from the Canary Islands.1956-07-18Inauguration of the Pueblo Canario and the Museo Néstor in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.The Canary Islands Statute of Autonomy enters into force.16 August 1982The Canary Islands Statute of Autonomy enters into force.The Canary Islands enter the EEC structural-funds system.1 January 1986The Canary Islands enter the EEC structural-funds system.The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is created.26 April 1989The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is created.The Treaty of Amsterdam enshrines the European framework for the outermost regions.1997-10-02The Treaty of Amsterdam enshrines the European framework for the outermost regions.The euro becomes the currency of Spain and therefore of the Canary Islands.1 January 1999The euro becomes the currency of Spain and therefore of the Canary Islands.The cayuco crisis raises irregular arrivals in the Canary Islands to 31,678 people.2006The cayuco crisis raises irregular arrivals in the Canary Islands to 31,678 people.The Canary Islands receive 15.1 million tourists.2019The Canary Islands receive 15.1 million tourists.The COVID-19 pandemic causes an economic and social crisis in the Canary Islands.14 March 2020The COVID-19 pandemic causes an economic and social crisis in the Canary Islands.

Related sections

History

Gran Canaria's history spans the world of the guanartemes of Gáldar and Telde and the Cueva Pintada, the Castilian conquest of 1478-1483 with the Real de Las Palmas, Doramas and Fernando Guanarteme, the sugar mills, the feat against Van der Does in 1599, the cochineal trade, the Puerto de La Luz of 1883 and the tourism that today accompanies the archipelago's shared capital status.

Linked Figures

Guanartemes, writers, artists, politicians and social figures help to make sense of Gran Canaria's role in the region's history.

Heritage

Caves, granaries, historic town centres, churches, fortifications and cultural landscapes connect the pre-Hispanic world with the colonial era.

Related content

Conquista de Gran Canaria

Hito del proceso de incorporacion castellana.

Benito Perez Galdos

Figura literaria vinculada a Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Risco Caido y cultura indigena

Contexto general sobre sociedades prehispanicas canarias.