Machiavelli: The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli was born into a time of political upheaval in Italy. At the time of his birth to a wealthy Florentine lawyer in 1469, the Medici family had been ruling Italy for 35 years. The political life in Italy was characterized by instability, fear, and invasion as the small states of Italy were pulled into the wars and politics of Europe by the larger, more powerful states of France and Spain. ... He didn't become involved in Italian politics until 1498, whoever, when a second Republic was set up under Soderini. ... Before the initial attempts at a ...

• Word Count: 2744
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

He had a strong dislike for the previous Italian princes. The fact Machiaveli has taken the time to write this book leads me to believe that Italy was in desperate times. ... Machiavelli's prince goes against the whole renaissance man perspective and travels along the line of an individual whose only "talent" is to ensure the stability of the state that he governs. ... One of the most controversial of this group is Niccolo Machiavelli, who was a 15th century Italian from Florence. ... Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy at a time when the country was in political upheaval. ...

• Word Count: 2654
• Approx Pages: 11