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This chapter focuses exclusively on medieval Jewish civilization, from the fall of the Roman Empire to about 1492. It includes alphabetically organized entries, written by scholars from around the world, include biographies, countries, events, social history, and religious concepts. Medieval Christian society was plagued continually by heretical movements and beliefs. They gained currency increasingly in the latter part of the twelfth century and throughout the thirteenth century by way of the Cathar, Waldensian, and Albigensian heresies, which are almost indistinguishable and often interchangeable in the sources. The Almoravid dynasty was founded in North Africa in the early eleventh century. Unlike the later more fanatical Almohads, they did not particularly single out Christians and Jews for persecution. Medieval Jews, in spite of laws (both Muslim and Christian) prohibiting them from holding office, were frequently government officials. Andalucia, a province of southern Spain, derives its name from Arabic Al-Andalus.