<P> After the conquest, the Castilians imposed a new economic model, based on single - crop cultivation: first sugarcane; then wine, an important item of trade with England . In this era, the first institutions of colonial government were founded . Gran Canaria, a colony of the Crown of Castile since 6 March 1480 (from 1556, of Spain), and Tenerife, a Spanish colony since 1495, each had its own governor . </P> <P> The cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria became a stopping point for the Spanish conquerors, traders, and missionaries on their way to the New World . This trade route brought great prosperity to some of the social sectors of the islands . The islands became quite wealthy and soon were attracting merchants and adventurers from all over Europe . Magnificent palaces and churches were built on La Palma during this busy, prosperous period . The Church of El Salvador survives as one of the island's finest examples of the architecture of the 16th century . </P> <P> The Canaries' wealth invited attacks by pirates and privateers . Ottoman Turkish admiral and privateer Kemal Reis ventured into the Canaries in 1501, while Murat Reis the Elder captured Lanzarote in 1585 . </P> <P> The most severe attack took place in 1599, during the Dutch Revolt . A Dutch fleet of 74 ships and 12,000 men, commanded by Pieter van der Does, attacked the capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (the city had 3,500 of Gran Canaria's 8,545 inhabitants). The Dutch attacked the Castillo de la Luz, which guarded the harbor . The Canarians evacuated civilians from the city, and the Castillo surrendered (but not the city). The Dutch moved inland, but Canarian cavalry drove them back to Tamaraceite, near the city . </P>

Where are the canary islands located on a map