theme system

(noun)

A new military system created during the Heraclian Dynasty of the Byzantine Empire in which land was granted to farmers who in return would provide the Empire with loyal soldiers. Similar to the feudal system of medieval Western Europe.

Related Terms

Examples of theme system in the following topics:

  • The Theme System

    • The Byzantine-Arab wars wrought havoc on the Byzantine Dynasty but led to the creation of the highly efficient military theme system.
    • The theme system reached its apogee in the 9th and 10th centuries, as older themes were split up and the conquest of territory resulted in the creation of new ones.
    • In order to survive and fight back, the Byzantines created a new military system known as the theme system.
    • This efficiency of the theme system allowed the dynasty to keep hold of the imperial heartland of Asia Minor.
    • As a result, a high level of efficiency was needed to combat the Arabs, achieved in part due to the theme system.

  • The Macedonian Dynasty

    • The Macedonian Dynasty saw expansion and the Byzantine Renaissance but also instability due to competition among nobles in the theme system.
    • Basil was born a simple peasant in the Byzantine theme of Macedonia, he rose in the Imperial court, and usurped the Imperial throne from Emperor Michael III (r. 842–867).
    • Artists adopted their naturalistic style and complex techniques from ancient Greek and Roman art and mixed them with Christian themes.
    • Throughout this period there was great competition among nobles for land in the theme system.
    • Since such governors could collect taxes and control the military forces of their themes, they became independent of the emperors and acted independently, weakening the authority of the emperors.

  • Classical Theme Types

  • Themes in Art

    • Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a work.
    • Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated.
    • A theme is not the same as the subject of a work.
    • Themes are similar but also different from motifs in that themes are ideas conveyed by the visual experience as a whole, while motifs are repeated symbols found inside an overarching theme.
    • Simply having a repeating pattern or motif does not necessarily mean that that motif is the theme of the work of art, as the theme could be much broader.

  • Themes

    • A longer section of melody that keeps reappearing in the music - for example, in a "theme and variations" - is often called a theme.
    • Themes generally are at least one phrase long and often have several phrases.
    • Many longer works of music, such as symphony movements, have more than one melodic theme.
    • For example, in the music John Williams composed for the Star Wars movies, there are melodic themes that are associated with the main characters.
    • These themes are often complete melodies with many phrases, but a single phrase can be taken from the melody and used as a motif.

  • Introduction to the Role of the Government in the Economy

    • America points to its free enterprise system as a model for other nations.
    • But exactly how "free" is business in America's free enterprise system?
    • Indeed, one enduring theme of recent American economic history has been a continuous debate about when, and how extensively, government should intervene in business affairs.

  • Thematic Modules

    • The following diagrams outline the key internal characteristics and functional role of the various theme types presented in William Caplin's Classical Form.

  • Religion as a Theme

    • Most Christian art alludes to themes that are familiar to a practicing Christian, such as the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus or the crucifixion.
    • Christianity has historically made use of an elaborate iconographic system, whereby each saint is associated with a particular object or animal.
    • Some Buddhist art contains animist themes, meaning the depiction of natural elements (animals, nature, earth) as spiritual entities.
    • One of the most common Christian themes is that of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus.

  • Jain Sculpture

    • Therefore, Jain art from this period is stylistically similar to Hindu or Buddhist art, although its themes and iconography are specifically Jain.
    • Popular themes and icons in Jain art include the Tirthankaras (Jain saviors, or human beings who achieved the ultimate spiritual salvation and served as role models for society), yakshas and yakshinis (supernatural male and female guardian deities), and holy symbols such as the lotus and the swastika, which symbolized peace and well-being.
    • On the right is Mahavira, the last of those 24, who consolidated and reformed the religious and philosophical system.

  • Modular 12 Arithmetic

    • The compound period (also called the 16-bar period because its typical form is 16 bars long), is made of two themes instead of two phrases.
    • Just as in a regular period, the first theme ends in a weak cadence (most often HC) and the second theme ends in a strong(er) cadence (most often PAC).
    • Also like in a regular period, the two themes begin with the same basic idea (BI), possibly with some variation between the two.
    • The themes that are used to make the compound period have the same characteristics as they normally do, with the exception that the need for a weak cadence at the end of the first theme and a strong cadence at the end of the second theme may override the typical cadence patterns of those themes when they occur in isolation.
    • Similarly, a compound period can be comprised of two Hybrid 1 themes (antecedent–continuation)