MEDIEVAL HISTORY VOCABULARY FOR TECHBOOK SECTIONS 11 AND 12
BYZANTINE AND MUSLIM CIVILIZATIONS
Constantine: An emperor of the Roman Empire and founder of Constantinople
Justinian: One of the greatest Byzantine emperors
Justinian’s Code: An organized collections and explanation of Roman laws for use by
the Byzantine Empire
Schism: A split, particularly in a church or religion
Muhammad: The prophet and founder of Islam
Nomads: people with no permanent home, who move from place to place in search
of food, water, or pasture
Caravan: A group of traders traveling together for safety
Mecca: Arabian trading center and Muhammad’s birthplace
Muslim: A follower of Islam
Mosque: A Muslim house of worship
Quran: The holy book of Islam
Omar Khayyam: A Muslim poet, mathematician, and astronomer
Caliph: A Muslim ruler
Sufis: A mystical Muslim group that believed they could draw closer to God through
prayer, fasting, and a simple life.