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Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: CAR-CAU |
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CATALONIA (Cataluna) , a captaincy-general, and formerly a province of Spain, formerly also a principality of the crown of Aragon; bounded on the N. by the Pyrenees, W. by Aragon, S. by Valencia, and E. by the Mediterranean Sea. Pop. (190o) 1,966,382; area, 12,427 sq. m. . The triangular territory of Catalonia forms the north-eastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. A full account of the physical features, and of the modern development of commerce, communications, &c., in this area is given in the articles on the four provinces Barcelona, Gerona, Lerida and Tarragona, into which Catalonia was divided in 1833. The coast, which is partly sandy, partly rocky, extends about 240 m.; its chief
capital , Barcelona, of Matar6, of Rosas and of Tarragona. The surface is much broken by spurs of the Pyrenees, the direction of which is generally south. Running south-west to north-east, and united on the north with one of the offsets of the Pyrenees, is the range of the Sierra Llena, which bisects 'Catalonia, and forms its central watershed. The principal rivers are the Ter, the Llobregat, and the Ebro (q.v.), which all run into the Mediterranean. None of them is navigable. The climate, in spite of frequent mists and rains, sudden changes of temperature, and occasional great mid-day heat, is healthy and favourable to vegetation. The dwarf-palm, orange, lime, and olive grow in the warmer tracts; and on the higher grounds the thorn-apple, pomegranate, myrtle, esparto and heaths flourish. These is much woodland,but meadows and pastures are rare. Maize, millet, rye, flax, liquorice and fruits of all sortsespecially nuts, almonds, oranges, figs, walnuts and chestnutsare produced. Wheat sufficient for one-fourth of the population is grown, and the vine is extensively cultivated. Few cattle, but numbers. of sheep, goats and swine are reared. Game is plentiful, and the fisheries on the coast are excellent. The wines are for the most part rough and strong, though some are very good, especially when matured. They are much used to adulterate those of Oporto, or, after undergoing the blending operation termed corn page, are passed off as Bordeaux wines in France. The best of them, priorato, is chiefly known in England, under the disguise of second or third-rate port; it was much used in the military hospitals of America during the Civil War. The Catalonians are a frugal, sharp
pride
Catalonia was one of the first of the Roman possessions in Spain, and formed the north-eastern portion of Hispania Tarraconensis. About 470 it was occupied by the Alans and Goths. It was conquered by the Moors in 712, but these invaders were in turn dispossessed by the Spaniards and the troops of Charlemagne in 788. Catalonia was subsequently ruled by French counts, who soon, however, made themselves independent of France. By the marriage
cortes
The history and literature of Catalonia have been closely studied, and in many cases the results of research are published in the Catalan language. See Cataluna, sus monumentos y artes, su naturaleza e historia (2 vols. of the illustrated series Espana), by P. Pifferrer, F. Pi Margall, and A. A. Pijoan (Barcelona, 1884) ; Historia de Cataluna, by V. Balaguer (11 vols., Madrid, 1886, &c.); Historia de Cataluna, by A. Bori y Fontesta (Barcelona, 1898) ; Origines historicos de Cataluna, by J. Balari y Jovany (Barcelona, 1899) Coleccio dels monografias de Catalunya, by J. Reig y Vilardell (Barcelona, 189o) ; Historia del derecho en Catalonia, Mallorca y Valencia, by B. Oliver (Madrid, 1876188o); and Antigua
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