The history of the Canary Islands spans 2000 years. But I won’t just copy Wikipedia for you. Anyone who wants to know all the details can read it themselves. I’ll tell you only what tourists need to know about the Canary Islands’ history: the main events, and the island locations with significant historical importance. This article is primarily for travelers planning to visit.

Where the Name “Canary Islands” Came From

This is the most common question from tourists. Many mistakenly believe the islands were named after canary birds, whose ancestors supposedly came from here. But it’s actually the other way around: the canary bird was named after the Canary Islands, and the name “Canary” came much earlier.

Here’s what’s important to know:

It’s believed that the first people arrived on the uninhabited Canaries from North Africa around the 1st century BCE. They were from various African tribes. It’s confirmed that around the 1st century BCE, the Canaries were visited by the King of Mauretania (a kingdom in modern-day Morocco and Algeria), Juba II.

If you’re interested, you can read an article about the Canaries on the world map, which includes a map and neighboring areas. Despite being geopolitically part of Europe today, the Canaries are over 1000 km from Europe and just 100 km from Africa.

canary islands name dogs
The history of the Canary Islands began with the mention of these dogs when the first travelers arrived more than 2000 years ago.

The Roman philosopher and writer Pliny the Elder, in his work “Natural History” around 50 CE, first mentioned islands 100 km west of the African mainland under the name “Canariae Insulae.”

According to sailors’ accounts, on which Pliny based his work, the islands were inhabited by a huge number of wild dogs, all of which were huge (similar in size to modern dogs, if not larger).

And here’s the etymology of the name “Canary Islands”:

  • In Latin, “dog” is “canis,” and “island” is “insula.”
  • So “Dog Islands” translates to “Canariae Insulae.” This name stuck, and since the 1st century BCE, thanks to Pliny the Elder, the islands have been called “Dog Islands.”
why canary dog islands
Today, Canarian dogs are a symbol of the islands; they’re even on the Canary Islands’ coat of arms. The shield, which depicts all seven islands of the archipelago, is held by those same dogs, with the Spanish crown above it.

This is one of the theories about the origin of the name “Canary Islands,” which most scholars adhere to. But there are other, less popular theories with fewer evidence and facts. However, the origin of the name “Canary Islands” is still not definitively established.

The History of the Canary Islands Before Europeans

Origin of the Canary Islands:

All seven islands of the archipelago are of volcanic origin. Millions of years ago, they formed due to active volcanic activity. On some islands, all the volcanoes are extinct, while, for example, the Teide volcano on Tenerife is a dormant volcano. Volcanic activity still persists on the island of La Palma. The last eruption in the Canaries was in 2021. You can read more about this in the article on volcanoes and mountains in the Canaries.

Starting from the 1st century BCE, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and even Greeks sailed to the Canary Islands. However, none of these empires found these territories interesting.

During those times, the islands were considered the edge of the world and held no strategic or trade significance.

Interesting to Know:

The first Europeans arrived on the islands in the mid-14th century. By this time, the Renaissance had already begun in Europe. And on the Canary Islands lived tribes that lagged behind Europeans in terms of development by 1000 years. They were engaged in pastoralism and wore goat skins instead of clothing.

About the population of the Canary Islands, the Guanches, Canarians, and much more useful information for tourists can be found in the article through the link.

history of the canary
The history of the Canary Islands is inseparably linked with the indigenous tribes – the Guanches, Majoreros, and others. In the photo, a monument to one of the leaders of the tribe from the island of La Gomera, who resisted the Europeans.

And then, from the beginning of the 15th century, the history of the Canary Islands, thanks to Europeans, began to develop rapidly.

  • In 1402, the French navigator Jean de Béthencourt sailed to conquer the Canary Islands, which were still unclaimed at that time.
  • On the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, the Guanche tribes welcomed him warmly. On the other islands, he was greeted with arrows and spears.
  • He declared all seven islands his possessions in absentia.
  • In 1404, Jean de Béthencourt formed an alliance with the Castilian king (a region of Spain). The essence of the alliance was simple: all the Canary Islands became colonies of Castile (and in the future, Spain), in exchange, they received the protection of the crown, and Jean de Béthencourt was appointed governor of the Canary Islands for life.
  • In that same year, 1404, Jean de Béthencourt founded the first city on the islands and proclaimed it the capital of the Canaries. This city is Betancuria on the island of Fuerteventura. Today, Betancuria is a very beautiful village with 800 inhabitants and is popular among tourists. In the article “Top 15 Attractions of Fuerteventura,” you can read about it and get an overview of Betancuria.

The Canaries during Columbus’ Time

By 1479, all the influential European countries, including Portugal, which also claimed the Canary Islands, recognized them as part of Spain.

Interesting to Know:

From the moment Europeans arrived here until today, the Canaries have always been under Spain’s control. Although there were numerous attempts by the Dutch, English, and Portuguese to capture the islands. It’s quite rare on the political map of Europe, especially back then, for an overseas colony to never change sovereignty in 500 years.
canary islands history
Columbus’ House in the city of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria, where the navigator stayed during his voyages. Today, it’s an excellent museum.

Christopher Columbus gave a new impetus to the development of these islands. He made the Canaries an important point on the route to America.

  • In 1494, Columbus, in search of a southern route to India before his long voyage, made his final stop on the island of La Gomera. And three months later, he discovered America.
  • All routes of subsequent voyages to America also passed through the Canaries. In Las Palmas, he even had a house where he stayed during his sea crossings.
  • After the discovery of America, the Canaries became an important strategic point on the route. This led to a rapid increase in the islands’ population, the construction of new cities, and economic growth.

Interesting to Know:

The main agricultural crops in the Canaries are potatoes and bananas. There are many traditional Canarian dishes made from potatoes here. And the most famous Canarian dish is “Papas arrugadas” (boiled potatoes in seawater). Tobacco is also grown here, and cigars are rolled from Canarian tobacco. Canarian cigars are sold in almost any store and souvenir shop. And now, the main question: who do the Canarians owe the appearance of tobacco and potatoes on the islands to, and who brought them and from where? I think you know the answer.

Modern History of the Canary Islands

And a few facts about the modern history of the Canaries that you will encounter on the islands:

  • The Canaries, like 500 years ago, are part of Spain, and therefore, the European Union and Schengen. To visit the Canary Islands, you need a Schengen visa.
  • The Canary Islands have the status of a special economic zone with simplified taxes. For you, as tourists, here are some advantages: gasoline is 20-30% cheaper than on the European mainland, and prices in stores for basic consumer goods are among the lowest in Europe. Overall, the Canaries are inexpensive islands, excluding accommodation rentals. There are many tourists, and prices in the tourism sector are not always reasonable.
  • On the islands, there are two names, two historical figures, by which streets, houses, squares, promenades are named. The first name is Columbus, but that’s understandable. And the second name is Cesar Manrique. He is perhaps the most famous Canarian in the world.

Cesar Manrique:

A modern sculptor, artist, architect, born, worked, and died (in 1992) on the island of Lanzarote. If on other islands, there aren’t as many objects associated with his name, then on Lanzarote, he’s practically a saint. He’s a cult figure, and most of Lanzarote’s sights are somehow connected to his work.
history canaries
The modern history of the Canary Islands is linked to the name of Cesar Manrique. In the photo, his house-studio, which he created during his lifetime, where he worked and lived for a period. Today, there is the Cesar Manrique Foundation. The villa is located on a lava field amidst solidified lava.

To tourists planning to visit the island of Lanzarote, I strongly recommend reading Cesar Manrique’s biography on Wikipedia before the trip. You’ll see many things and attractions differently afterward. Every corner of Lanzarote is imbued with his creativity. “Top 15 Attractions of Lanzarote.”

In conclusion: this was a very brief history of the Canary Islands specifically for travelers planning to vacation here. The information from this article will help better understand the stages of the Canaries’ development and which historical events have influenced the islands’ modern appearance.

Useful links to help you plan your dream trip to Canary Islands:

  • Car Rental: LocalRent or DiscoverCars – the most popular car rental platforms.

  • Accommodation:
    • Trip.com – the largest accommodation booking platform.

    • or TripAdvisor – to compare prices among other platforms and choose the best one.

  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Spain and Canary Islands: CheapOair.

  • Tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator – hundreds of offers, whales and dolphins, entrance tickets with discounts.

  • eSIM and internet: Airalo.

  • Flights: WayAway compares prices among dozens of companies.

  • Travel Insurance: EKTA.