MORANIA (Ger. ,lialtren.), a crown-laud of the Austrian empire, situated in 48° 40' to 50' u. lat., and 15° 5' to 18" 45' c. long. It is bounded n. by Prussian and Austrian Silesia, e. by Hungary and Galicia, s. by the duchy of Austria, and w. by Bohemia. The superficial area is about 8,480 sq.m. ; and the pop. in 1870 was 2,017,974.
Moravia is inclosed and traversed on all sides by mountains, being separated from Silesia by the range of the Sudetes; front Bohemia, by the Moravian chain; and from Hungary, by the Carpathian mountains; while branches of these various chains intersect the country except in the s., where the land consists of extensive plains, lying about 800 ft. above the level of the sea. The numerous small rivers of the interior follow a s.e. direction, and fall into the March or Morava, from which the country derives its name, and then flow together with the latter into the Danube. The Oder, and its afflu ents the Elsa and Oppa, rise among the mountains on the n.c., from whence their course is soon turned directly away from the Moravian territory. There are few extensive lakes, but numerous ponds and small streams, which abound in fish. The more elevated parts of the country are not fertile, and the climate is severe; but in the mountain val leys and on the southern plains the soil is remarkably rich, and the temperature more genial than in other European countries lying in the same parallel. Moravia, which ranks as one of the richest of the Austrian dondaions, has half of its area in arable land. It yields fine crops of grain, and among the other natural products grown for exportation we may instance hops, mustard, potatoes, clover-seed, beet-root; and in the s., maize, grapes, chestnuts, and many other of the less hardy fruits and vegetables. The breed ing of cattle and sheep, and the making of cheese from sheep's milk, constitute an important branch of industry; in the southern districts of the Hanna plain famous for its fertility), horses are bred for exportation. Geese and fowls are reared in large num bers for the sake of their feathers, and the keeping of bees is conducted with great success. The mineral products include iron, alum, saltpeter, coal, graphite, wetstones, sulphur, vitriol, pipe-clay, marble, and topazes, garnets, and other precious stones.
Ind7t8try, etc.—The principal branches of industry are the manufacture of linen and thread, which now enjoy a European reputation, and those for cotton goods at Sternberg. Moravia has been noted for the excellence of its cloths, flannels, and other woolen fabrics, and for its leather goods. The minerals of Moravia, especially coal and iron,
are important, and are extensively wrought. Beet-sugar is largely manufactured. Briltin (q.v.), the capital, is the chief emporium for the manufacturing trade, and Ohnutz (q.v.) the principal cattle-mart.
The educational wants of the province are provided for by 12 gymnasia and about 1900 schools. The former university at Olmiltz is now represented by a theological faculty, and by a large technical institute. The majority of the people belong to the church of Rome. There are about 50,000 Protestants and 40,000 Jews.
In regard to nationality, the population may be divided as follows: About 500,000 Germans, nearly a million and a half of Slays, and 50,000 belonging to other races (including Jews). The Slays of Moravia are mostly Czechs, with Poles and a few Croats. The Czechs are inferior in all respects to their brethren in Bohemia. The Moravian Poles, although inferior to the Germans as regards industry and cultivation, are a phys ically well developed, courageous, and enterprising people.
Jii8tory.—Moravia was anciently occupied by the Quadi, who, on their migration in the 5th c. to Gaul and Hispania, were replaced first by the Rugii, next by the Heruli and Longobardi, and finally by a colony of Slavonians, who, on their settlement in the country, took the name of Moravians, from the river Morava. Charlemagne, who brought the people under nominal subjection after they had spread themselves over a territory greater than the present Moravia, constrained their king, Samoslav, to receive baptism; but Christianity was first formally established in the middle of the 9th c. by Cyril, who must be regarded as the true apostle of the land. Moravia was made tribu tary to the German empire before the close of the century; but in lon it was incorpo tilted with Bohemia, after having for a time been a prey to the incursive attacks of its Slavonic and Teutonic neighbors. At the close of the 12th c. Moravia was erected into margraviate, and declared a fief of Bohemia, to be held from the crown by the younger brztuches of the royal house. On the death of Louis II. at the battle of Mohacz in 1526, Moravia, with all the other Bohemian lands, fell to Austria, in accordance with a pre existing compact of succession between the royal houses. Since then it has shared the fortunes of the empire. and.in 1849 it was formally. separated front Bohemia, and declared' a distinct province and crown-land.