Why are Cistercian monasteries located away from villages and towns, in valleys in the forest? In contrast, why are Dominican convents found in the hustle and bustle of large cities? What lies behind the many foundations of women's orders in the 19th century? Why is there an aura of power and danger surrounding the Jesuits? The world of monasticism and orders is a core area and seed of European civilization, not only in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages but also in response to the Reformation and secularization. This lexicon by church historian and Dominican Father Isnard W. Frank provides detailed knowledge on these topics and has been bibliographically updated and revised regarding membership numbers by his successor in the Vienna convent for this new edition.