1. All starts 23 million years ago…

2. 7 islands and 5 islets which emerged from
the depths of the Atlantic Ocean…
because of the strong volcanic activity

4. And even though everyone looks at us this
way…

5. …because of our mild weather caused
by the trade winds
(oceanic moist winds which soft the
influence of african climate)

6. Calima (dust in
the air from
The Sahara
Desert,
bringing high
temperatures)

7. We also have history…

8. According to the most accepted theories, the
first inhabitants of the islands were
“bereberes”…
…who came from
Noth Africa, about
the 5th Century b.C

9. But some centuries before, maybe from
other countries

10. Both cultural evidences as their magical-
religious beliefs corroborate it

11. This first colonization meant many changes,
mainly in the cultives, cuisine and wildlife, as
they introduced different domestic animals

12. The arrival of the aborigines caused also the
extinction of some large reptiles,
such as the giant lizard, which could
reach up to a meter or more

13. In some islands, such as El Hierro, there are
still descendants of these ancient specimens,
but smaller ones

14. The History tells that our ancestors,
known as Guanches, were a strong race,
with also a strong
family roots

15. “Mencey” or “Guanarteme” were the
kings…
Who were pureblooded
noblemen

16. They mainly lived from agriculture and
animal husbandry
But they also practiced fishing and fruit
collection

17. Our ancestors took also advantage from
the volcanic tubes and caves to live there

18. The Canaries were metal lacked, so the
aborigens developed stone utensils…
…but also bone and wood tools

20. …maybe one of the most important tools of
Guanches
Gofio, a kind of flour made from corn or
wheat, was done with this stone mill…

21. Aborigens
created them
as family
stamps
…which were used for
body-painting, too
“Pintaderas” are actually
an identity sign of our
islands

22. So, art was very present in aboriginal life,
with such amazing samples as the Painted
Cave of Gáldar, in Gran Canaria

23. Guanches had strong beliefs on different
Gods and protective spirits…
…as Tara, a
small
figure that
represents
fertility

24. …but also in natural strength

25. We have inherited a variety of cultural
samples and sports, such as the “Shepherd
jumping” or the “Canarian wrestling”

26. And so, between fights, the end of the
aborigen era started…

27. The Conquest of the Canary Islands took
place between 1402-1496
Gran Canaria
La Gomera
El Hierro
Lanzarote
Fuerteventura
Tenerife
La Palma

28. But not without opposition from the
aboriginal towns

29. First French Lords and medieval knights,
and finally Castilians, supported by the
Catholic Kings, concluded the conquest…

30. From that time, the Canaries were an
strategic point in the Atlantic Ocean, place
of reference to navigation
Christopher Columbus departed from La
Gomera island on his first trip to America,
1492

31. Navigators in their goings and comings from
America, carried and brought almost all…

32. French, Portuguese, English or Dutch pirates
and navies staged different attacks to the
islands looking for richness…

33. For that reason, the islands were fortified

34. During one of the most famous battles in
Santa Cruz de Tenerife…
…the British Royal Navy was defeated, and
Admiral Horatio Nelson was badly wounded

35. He lost his right arm…
The Tiger Canyon, located in Santa
Cruz, was the responsible

36. But the islands remained under the
Spanish Crown’s rule
Nowadays, one of the 17
Communities of Spain

37. So, the Canaries have always had a
discreet but important place in History

38. During the Ancient Age, it was believed that
the islands were the end of the world

39. Different historians have written about
the Canary islands throughout History…
The Greek
Hesíodo saw in
the Canaries the
“Garden of the
Hesperides”
The Roman Pliny the
Elder call them the
“Fortunate Islands”

40. And we still are…

41. From our ancestors, we keep customs,
traditions, beliefs, lexicon…
…and some amazing legends

42. As the Legend of Gara & Jonay...
M.F. Serafín