GRANADA , an ancient kingdom, and one of the old provinces in the s of Spain, was bounded on the w. by Andalusia, on the e. by Murcia, and on the s. and s.e. by the Mediterranean. Its greatest length from n.e. to s.w. was about 210 m., and its greatest breadth about 80 miles. It is now divided into the three modern provinces of Granada. Almeria, and Malaga, the united areas of which amount to 11,063 sq.m., and the united pop., in 18i0, to 1,351,909. The surface of this ancient province is mountainous and picturesque in a high degree. The mountain-ranges—the chief of which are the Sierra Nevada, the Sierra de Ropda; and the Alpujarras—as a general rule, run parallel with The principal rivers are the Almanzora, Almeria, Jenil, Guadalhorce, and Guadiaro, all of which, save the Jenil, an affluent of the Guadalquiver, flow into the Mediterranean. The province of Granada is, on the whole, fruitful and highly culti• vated. The mountains are rich in silver, copper, lead. and iron; and many of the
inhabitants•are engaged in mining and smelting. Saline and mineral springs abound. In the time of the Romans, Granada was a portion of the province of Baetica; but after the Arab invasion it formed an independent Moorish kingdom. For a time it was exceedingly wealthy. From the year 1248 the Moorish kings of Granada were obliged to recognize the supremacy of the kings of Castile. A quarrel, however, which arose between the vassal king of Granada and Ferdinand and Isabella in the 15th c., resulted in a war of 11 years' duration, the consequence of which was the complete conquest of Granada by the Spaniards in 1492. and the total destruction of :Moorish authority in Spain. The modern province of Granada has an area of 5,030 sq.m.; pop. '70, 485,346.