Seville (city)

Capital of Seville province and of the autonomous community of Andalusia, southern Spain, on the River Guadalquivir, 96 km/60 mi north of Cádiz; population (2001 est) 702,500. Products include machinery, spirits, porcelain, armaments, explosives, pharmaceuticals, perfume, textiles, and tobacco; tourism is an important industry. Connected to the Atlantic by the river and a canal accessible to ocean-going vessels, Seville is a major port, exporting wines, fruit, olives, cork, and minerals. Seville's historically important river port allowed the city to enter its greatest period of prosperity during the 16th century, when it had a monopoly of trade with the West Indies.

Seville was an important town during Phoenician times as well as in Roman times, when it was known as Hispalis and was made a judicial centre of Baetica province. It continued as a chief city of southern Spain under the Vandals and the Visigoths, and was a centre of learning in the 6th century. In 712 it was taken by the Moors, and (as Isbiliya) became (c. 1023–91) seat of an independent emirate under the Abbadids and a flourishing commercial and cultural centre under the Almoravids and the Almohads. Ferdinand III of León and Castile captured it in 1248 and made it his residence. Under the rule of the Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand II and Isabella I, Seville became one of the most affluent cities in Europe, and the newfound trade with the Americas ushered in a period of expansion. It was the chief port of trade with the new colonies until 1718, when it was superseded by Cádiz.