CAT'ALO'NIA (Sp. ratalutia, Fr. Catalogne, :Med. Lat. for from Gothus. Goth Atanua. Alan), An old prov ince and principality of Spain, occupying the northeastern corner of the kingdom, and bound ed by France on the north (with the Pyrenees on the border) and the :Mediterranean on the east and southeast (Map: Spain, F 2f. Area, 12,430 square miles, comprising the modern provinces of Barcelona, Tarragona. Larida. and Gerona. The coast is rugged and well indented. With the ex ception of a few low plains of limited extent. the surface of Catalonia is that of a wild. moun tainous region, formed by numerous outliers or terraces of the Pyrenees. and by one great ridge or series of ridges extending through the centre of the district in a general southern direction. The chief rivers are the Segre, the Ter, the Llo bregat, and the Ebro, all flowing into the Mediter ranean and none navigable except the Ebro. The climate of Catalonia, in spite of its unsteadiness and the prevalence of fogs and rain. is, on the whole, healthful and favorable to vegetation. Near Barcelona oranges flourish in the open air: the fields in some parts are bounded by aloe hedges, and olives arc found on :Montserrat. Cork-trees grow on the mountains, and thickets of thorn apple. laurel. myrtle. petnegraumic. lox, rose many, etc., extend where the cork has no growth. Northern Catalonia has a more severe winter than the southern portion. but everywhere vine yards and olive gardens cover the slopes, and corn-fields extend in the valleys. Among the other produ•ts are hemp, flax, madder. harilla, and saffron. Hazelnuts, a Variety called Baree lona nuts. are extensively grown. Meadowlands and pastures are comparatively rare. and horned cattle are, therefore. mostly confined to the filets bordering on the Pyrenees. IlOr4e4; and mules are reared to a limited extent. but sheep. goats, and swine are bred in considerable numbers. Silkworms and bees also thrive. The coasts abound with fish, and game is plentiful. The minerals are coal, copper. manganese. zinc. lead, cobalt, salt, sulphur, and many varieties of marble. Catalonia is the principal manufac
turing and commercial part of the kingdom, and has the best transportation facilities in Spain. The leading manufactures are cotton, silk, woolen goods, paper, anus. etc. The principal eity and the capital is Barcelona. Population, in ISS7. 1.s35.790: in 1900, 1.9S-1,115. The Cata liMiallS are a mixed people. having the combined features of 'Iberian and Guth: are of low stature, dark brunette in color. with wide. projecting foreheads. and dark hair and eyes (cranial index. 77.7-7S.1: French Catalans, 7S.(1). Their speech is a sub-variety of Proveneal (Ripley. Paces of Europe. NVW York, 1S99). Catalonia has been in touch with most of the ethnic ele ments of western Europe. Upon its Iberian stock have been grafted the mixed race of Ro mans. the Scythian Ala us, the Teutonic Goths. the Semitic. Arabs. and the Alpine Franks. 2Co doubt their progressive vitality is due to the mixture. In energy. industry, and intelligence they greatly surpass the rest of the Spaniards.
Catalonia. under the name of Ilispania Tar raconensis. constituted a part of P,oman Spain. It was invaded and subdued by the Alans, and. after them. by the Goths. who gave the country the name of Oothalania, changed in the course of time to Catalonia. In the Eighth Century the Arabs gained possession of the southern part. When Charlemagne, in 7SS. subjugated Spain as far as the Ebro, Catalonia formed the central portion of the Spanish mark governed by Frankish counts who had Barcelona as their residence. They soon made themselves inde pendent of France. In 1151 Earl Ramon Beren guer, by his marriage with the Princess Petronil la (1137). united Catalonia with Aragon. to the future greatness of which Catalonia contributed in a very great measure by reason of its wealth and the influence wielded by the citizens of Bar celona, its capital, in the western Mediterranean. See SPAIN, paragraph on BiRtory; CATALAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. Consult: Boni y Fontesta. Historia de Cataluna (Barcelona, ISi1S) Balari y Oriycncs historicos do Cataluna (Barcelona. 1899).