annona
A tax on land property; the proceeds were used towards the provisioning of cities (annona civica) or payment of the soldiers (annona militaris).

Catalan Company, the
(almugavares, compagnia) A group of fully-armed and highly-trained Catalans mercenary warriors, who numbered a few thousand. In 1303 they came to the assistance of Byzantium against the Turks, but soon they turned against the Empire and took to large-scale looting. They conquered the Burgundian duchy of Athens, after the battle of Orchomenos in Copais, in 1311.

forum
The marketplace, which was the center of public life in the Byzantine city. It was usually rectangular, embellished with honorific columns, imperial statues, and nymphaea.

macellum
Meat market.

praefectus urbi (prefect of the city)
(later referred to as the eparch of the city) Αdministrator and virtual governor of Constantinople in the Early/Middle Byzantine Era. He was responsible for the surveillance and the harmonius life of the Capital. One of his responsibilities was to control the commercial and manufacturing activities of Constantinople. After 1204, however, the office began to diminish, while from the 14th century, his responsibilities were assumed by two officers, the so-called kephalatikeuontai of the capital.