Island Chronology of La Gomera

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

La cronologia gomera enlaza mundo indigena, senorio, viajes atlanticos, despoblamiento relativo y patrimonializacion cultural.

Key points

Poblamiento gomero prehispanico

Los antiguos habitantes de La Gomera (Gomeraos o Gomeros) llegaron posiblemente desde el norte de Africa; su cultura ha sido menos estudiada que la de otras islas pero tiene rasgos propios.

Conquista señorial (s. XV)

La isla fue conquistada a traves de un proceso de señorio y acuerdos con los indigenas; la resistencia tuvo varios episodios de violencia, especialmente la sublevacion de 1488.

Escalas colombinas (1492-1498)

San Sebastian de La Gomera fue la ultima parada de Colon antes de sus cuatro viajes a America; el vinculo con el descubrimiento atlantico marco la memoria historica de la isla.

Siglos XIX-XX: emigración y transformacion

La emigracion masiva a Venezuela y Cuba en los siglos XIX y XX redujo drasticamente la poblacion gomera; el retorno de emigrantes y el turismo desde los años 70 revirtieron la tendencia.

Milestones of La Gomera

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.Hernán Peraza the Elder founds San Sebastián de La Gomera around the mid-15th century.c. 1450Hernán Peraza the Elder founds San Sebastián de La Gomera around the mid-15th century.The Treaty of Alcáçovas recognises Castilian rights over the Canary Islands.4 September 1479The Treaty of Alcáçovas recognises Castilian rights over the Canary Islands.Christopher Columbus departs from La Gomera on his first Atlantic voyage.1492-09-06Christopher Columbus departs from La Gomera on his first Atlantic voyage.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.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.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.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.The Island Councils Act establishes self-government for each island.1912-07-11The Island Councils Act establishes self-government for each island.The Canary archipelago is divided into two provinces.21 September 1927The Canary archipelago is divided into two provinces.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.25 March 1981Garajonay National Park is created in La Gomera to protect the Canarian laurel forest.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 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.La Gomera is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.11 July 2012La Gomera is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.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

La Gomera's history links the four aboriginal cantons of Mulagua, Agana, Ipalan and Orone, the whistled language that astonished the first chroniclers, the Peraza lordship, the rebellion of 1488 and Pedro de Vera's repression, Columbus's stopover in San Sebastián in 1492, and a farming and seafaring society marked by emigration.

Linked Figures

Beatriz de Bobadilla, the figures linked to Columbus and the bearers of the Silbo connect the island with a wide range of historical processes.

Heritage

The Torre del Conde, the old paths, the hamlets, the farming terraces and the historic quarters of San Sebastián give shape to the island's memory.

Related content

Silbo Gomero

Articulo sobre el lenguaje silbado de La Gomera.

Cristobal Colon en La Gomera

Hito de la escala colombina.

Beatriz de Bobadilla

Figura historica vinculada a La Gomera.