The Conquest of the Canary Islands: Integration of the Canary Islands Into the Kingdom of Castile Spain 1402 - 1496 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798297548473)

The Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean a few hundred kilometers off the African coast, have historically been a crossroads of cultures, civilizations, and trade routes. Before the arrival of Europeans, the islands were inhabited by indigenous peoples, the Guanches and Majos, who developed ways of life adapted to the unique natural conditions of each island, with their own social structures, politics, and religious beliefs.
The conquest of the Canary Islands, which began in the early 15th century and continued until the end of the century, represents one of the first major processes of European territorial expansion outside the continent. It was a historical phenomenon that combined political ambition, the Castilian monarchs' will for power, and the private initiative of European adventurers and knights, in a context of growing interest in controlling Atlantic routes and new territories.
This process was neither uniform nor simple. The differences among the islands-in size, population, social organization, and resilience-led to different forms and times of conquest, from peaceful pacts and occupations to long and bloody wars. The incorporation of the islands into the Crown of Castile meant not only territorial expansion but also a profound cultural, demographic, and economic change that would lay the groundwork for Spain's subsequent overseas expansion.
This book addresses, island by island, the complex history of the Canary Islands' conquest, seeking to recover the voice and reality of its indigenous peoples, as well as those of the European protagonists. It analyzes the strategies, battles, alliances, and consequences of this transformative process, which had a lasting impact on the history of the Canary Islands, Spain, and the Atlantic world.
By offering a rigorous and detailed account, this book aims to contribute to a more complete and nuanced understanding of the conquest of the Canary Islands, debunking myths and highlighting the historical importance of an archipelago that was much more than a simple stage in European expansion.

Author: Tirso Diaz Diaz
ISBN-13: 9798297548473
Publisher: Independently Published
Language: English
Published: 08/11/2025
Pages: 126
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.39lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.27d