Cordova
an ancient Spanish city on the Gua Guadalquivir, in Andalusia, capital of a province of the same name. A part of the town is of Roman, a part of Moorish origin. The cathedral is a splendid building, originally a mosque, erected in the 8th century by King Abderahman. The city is well supplied with schools, hospitals, and other institutions. It has always carried on considerable trade; and under the Moors the leather exclusively manufactured there (cordovan) was exported in all directions. Cordova, which was founded by the Romans, became the capital of Arabian Spain and the center of Arabian splendor and science under the caliphs of the West.
With the decay of the Moorish empire it fell into the hands of Ferdinand III. of Castile. The province includes the fertile and beautiful valley of the Guadalquivir and the mountains of Sierra Morena. Pop. about 75,000.
COREA. See KOREA.