Arianism a theological belief, originated with Arius, a priest of Alexandria, that denied that Christ was divine and co-eternal with God the Father (p. 193)






barbarian a name given by the Romans to all peoples living outside the frontiers of the Roman Empire (except the Persians). (p. 207)






caesaropapism a term used to describe the supposedly unlimited power the emperor had over the church, even in doctrinal matters. (p. 216)

coenobitic monasticism communal living in monasteries, encouraged by Saint Basil and the church because it provided an environment for training the aspirant in the virtues of charity, poverty and freedom from self-deception. (p. 204)

comitatus "war band," a group of young men who were closely associated with the king in some southern tribes that swore loyalty to the chief, fought with him in battle, and were not supposed to leave the battlefield without him. (p. 211)






eremitical a form of monasticism that began in Egypt in the 3rd century where individuals and small groups withdrew from cities and organized society to see God through prayer. The people who lived in caves and sought shelter in the desert and mountains were called hermits, from the Greek word eremos. (p. 204)






foederati free barbarian units stationed near major provincial cities, they represented a second type of affiliated barbarian group. (p. 209)






infidel an unbeliever, the Muslim term for a Christian no matter how assimilated. (p. 226)

Islam Muhammad was a reformer who reformed religion into Islam, "submission to God," with straightforward doctrines and subtle and complex reasoning of Christianity. (p. 222)






Mozarabs assimilated Christians who did not attach much importance to the doctrinal differences between Islam and Christianity. (p. 226)






Orthodox Church Eastern orthodox church in the Byzantine empire. (p. 216)






penitentials manuals for the examination of conscience. (p. 199)

Petrine Doctrine the statement used by popes, bishops of Rome, based on Jesus’ words to substantiate their claim of being the successors of Saint Peter and heirs to his authority as chief of the apostles. (p. 194)






Qur’an the sacred book of Islam. (p. 222)






reconquista by about 1250, the Christina reconquest of Muslim Spain which brought most of the Iberian Peninsula under Christian control. (p. 227)






Salic law a law code issued by Salian Franks which provides us with the earliest description of Germanic customs. (p. 210)

solemnia annual gifts from the imperial treasury or from the taxes of certain provinces, a right granted to monks by Justinian. (p. 206)

syncretic faith it absorbed and adopted many of the religious ideas of the western Mediterranean world. (p. 192)






wergeld "manmoney" or "money to buy off the spear," according to the code of Salian Franks, this is the particular monetary value that every person had in the tribe. (p. 212)