MACHIAVELLI'S THE PRINCE

Machiavelli's the prince

Machiavelli's the prince

Machiavelli's, The Prince, is the straightforward, no-nonsense book on application of power during sixteenth century. Published in 1513, it was an attempt Machiavelli made to hurriedly re-enter politics.

Machiavelli was born May 3, 1469, in Florence, to the well-known middle-class family. Not the lot is known about his early life, but it is known that as the young man he learned Latin and that he much enjoyed reading ancient classics. His family members, had, by tradition, filled dependable positions in local government, and in 1498 Machiavelli's first involvement in politics was with unstable Florentine. He helped unseat dominant political and religious figure in Florence, Girolamo Savonarola.

The same year, he was appointed as chancellor and secretary to Ten of Liberty and Peace of republic. Machiavelli had the chance to participate in both diplomatic missions to foreign governments and in domestic politics. Over next fourteen years, he was able to closely scrutinize internal workings of government and to convene with prominent individuals. Among them, he met Cesare Borgia, who had the major profile in leadership for The Prince. By 1502, he had rapidly gained the political reputation and was the respected assistant to republican head of state, Piero Soderini.

In 1512, having been exiled since 1494, Medici family seized opportunity to replace and overthrow Soderini and republican government with their own autocratic regime. Machiavelli was eventually banished to his home in Percussina, after being taken from office, imprisoned, and tortured for his distinguished republican opinions. Around 1518, he changed his writing style to drama in La mandragola, which firmly established human nature given to self-centeredness. The play was well liked in much of Italy for several years. His next attempt was the military paper published in 1521 called The Art of War. This was Machiavelli's only historical work published. Having dedicated The Prince exactly to Medici, Machiavelli had made some attempts to gain his favor. Finally, in 1520, he was appointed official historian of Florence and was, as the result, commended with minor governmental duties.

In 1527, Medici family was once again exiled, and Machiavelli's hopes for advancement under revitalized republic were frustrated, for new government was apprehensive of his ties to Medici. Saddened by his country's internal strife, disappointed Machiavelli fell seriously ill and died on June 20, 1527 in Florence. A major event of Machiavelli's time was Renaissance. The Renaissance lasted throughout 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.

There were new forms of political organization and behavior, both in Italy and in north. These escorted by new mind-set toward politics. As Machiavelli states, "...in healing this subject I go away from directions set down by other ones" (Machiavelli Pg. 61) Here he was conversing of how Men and Princes are commended or censured. He furthermore states, "...for the man who strives after goodness in all his actions is sure to arrive to ruin, since there are so numerous men who are not good" (Machiavelli Pg. 62). This states the new way people were to approach politics - not ...