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Merino sheep

(Encyclopedia)Merino sheep mərēˈnō [key], breed intermediate in body size having fine wool, developed in Spain. These sheep are noted for their hardiness and their herding instincts and have been used as parent...

Nahmanides

(Encyclopedia)Nahmanides nähmänˈĭdēz [key], 1194–c.1270, Jewish scholar, exegete, and kabbalist, b. Spain. He wrote commentaries on the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud. A mystic, he rejected part of Maimonides' ...

Mahón

(Encyclopedia)Mahón mäōnˈ [key], Catalan Maó, town (1990 pop. 24,383), capital and chief town of Minorca island, Baleares prov., Spain, in the W Mediterranean Sea. A port with an excellent natural harbor defen...

Argyll, John Campbell, 2d duke of

(Encyclopedia)Argyll, John Campbell, 2d duke of, 1678–1743, Scottish general; son of the 1st duke, whom he succeeded in 1703. For his ardent support of the union of England and Scotland he was created (1705) earl...

saraband

(Encyclopedia)saraband sârˈəbănd [key], dance of Asian origin that first appeared in Spain in the 16th cent. At that time it was characterized by alternate 3–4 and 3–8 meter and was accompanied by castanets...

Segura

(Encyclopedia)Segura sāgo͞oˈrä [key], river, c.200 mi (320 km) long, rising on the northeastern slopes of the Sierra de Segura, SE Spain, and flowing generally E into the Mediterranean Sea. It is used for hydro...

cinnabar

(Encyclopedia)cinnabar sĭnˈəbär [key], mineral, the sulfide of mercury, HgS. Deep red in color, it is used as a pigment (see vermilion), but principally it is a source of the metal mercury. It is mined in Spain...

Ciudad Real

(Encyclopedia)Ciudad Real thyo͞oᵺäᵺˈ rāälˈ [key], city, capital of Ciudad Real prov., cen...

Giner de los Ríos, Francisco

(Encyclopedia)Giner de los Ríos, Francisco fränthēsˈkō hēnārˈ dā lōs rēˈōs [key], 1839–1915, Spanish educator and philosopher. He founded the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, a school that sought to...

Giralda

(Encyclopedia)Giralda hērälˈdä [key], the famous tower adjoining the Cathedral of Seville, Spain. It was built (1163–84) to serve as minaret to the main mosque of Seville, on the site of which the cathedral n...