1341

In 1341, an expedition led by the Genoese navigator Niccoloso da Recco, in collaboration with Mallorcan and Portuguese sailors, set sail for the Canary Islands. This journey, sponsored by King Alfonso IV of Portugal, aimed to explore and map the islands, which were known to Europeans but poorly documented. The expedition marked one of the first organized attempts to explore the Canaries, laying the groundwork for future conquests and colonization. The navigators described the islands, their natural resources, and the customs of the Guanches, their indigenous inhabitants. This event is significant because it paved the way for the subsequent incorporation of the Canaries into the European sphere, influencing trade and maritime expansion. Furthermore, the 1341 expedition is an early example of the rivalry among European maritime powers for control of strategic territories in the Atlantic.