GLOSSARY
apocryphal Of doubtful authorship or authenticity. appanage Source of revenue, such as land within the royal domain, for the maintenance of a member of a ruling family. arteriosclerosis Degenerative disorder characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of arterial walls and loss of elasticity, causing decreased blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attack. ascetic A person who dedicates his or her life to the pursuit of spiritual contemplation and ideas. bellicose Hostile; eager to fight. caliph A leader who serves as the successor of Muhammad as temporal and spiritual head of Islam. covenant In theology, an agreement that brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people. dichotomous Divided into two parts. draconian Rigorous, unusually severe. embryonic Rudimentary; underdeveloped. envisage To visualize. eschatological Concerning the end of the world or the ultimate destiny of humankind. expropriate To dispossess a person’s ownership of property. extant In existence, not destroyed or lost. fealty Loyalty or fidelity to a lord by a tenant or vassal. 371