Guanches

The Guanches were the indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, located off the coast of Northwest Africa, prior to Spanish colonization in the 15th century. While the term "Guanche" originally referred specifically to the inhabitants of Tenerife, it is now commonly used to refer to the aboriginal population of all seven islands in the archipelago: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, La Palma, and El Hierro.

Their origin is still debated, but genetic and archaeological evidence suggests they were likely of North African Berber descent, possibly arriving in multiple waves over a long period. It is believed they reached the islands sometime before the arrival of the Phoenicians or Romans.

Before the Spanish conquest, the Guanches lived in a relatively isolated and Neolithic culture. They practiced agriculture, including the cultivation of barley, wheat, and lentils. They also raised livestock, primarily goats, sheep, and pigs. Their tools were made of stone, bone, and wood. The Guanches were skilled craftspeople, producing pottery, basketry, and textiles.

Social structures varied across the different islands. Some islands had centralized kingdoms, while others were organized into smaller, more egalitarian clans or tribes. In Tenerife, for example, the society was hierarchical, ruled by a mencey (king).

The Guanche language, or languages, belonged to the Berber language family. Very little is known about the Guanche languages due to their disappearance following the Spanish conquest. Limited written inscriptions exist, and most knowledge comes from surviving words and place names recorded by early Spanish chroniclers.

The Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands began in the early 15th century and was completed in 1496 with the subjugation of Tenerife. The Guanches fiercely resisted the invaders, but they were ultimately defeated due to superior Spanish weaponry and tactics, as well as diseases against which the Guanches had no immunity. The post-conquest period saw the Guanche population decimated by warfare, disease, enslavement, and assimilation into Spanish society.

Today, the genetic and cultural legacy of the Guanches continues to be a subject of ongoing research and is reflected in the cultural practices and traditions of the modern-day Canary Islands. While the Guanche language is extinct, aspects of their culture, such as traditional foods, folk music, and crafts, have survived. Studies have also found Guanche genetic markers in the current population of the Canary Islands.