The Prince

byNiccolòMachiavelli

From the Oxford English Dictionary:

From the Oxford English Dictionary:

Machiavellian, n. and adj

From the Oxford English Dictionary:

Machiavellian, n. and adj A. n. A follower of Machiavelli; a person who adopts the principles recommended, or supposed to have been recommended, by Machiavelli in his treatise on statecraft; a person who practises expediency in preference to morality; an intriguer or schemer. Usu. derogatory.

From the Oxford English Dictionary:

Machiavellian, n. and adj A. n. A follower of Machiavelli; a person who adopts the principles recommended, or supposed to have been recommended, by Machiavelli in his treatise on statecraft; a person who practises expediency in preference to morality; an intriguer or schemer. Usu. derogatory.

B. adj. Of, relating to, or characteristic of Machiavelli, or of his principles or alleged principles; practising, or characterized by, (esp. political) expediency; unscrupulous, duplicitous; astute, cunning, scheming.

• Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli

• Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli• Born 3 May 1469 in Florence, son of a lawyer

• Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli• Born 3 May 1469 in Florence, son of a lawyer • Family with influence

• Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli• Born 3 May 1469 in Florence, son of a lawyer • Family with influence• Good education: Latin and Italian classics

• Combination of family and education permitted good job prospects

• Combination of family and education permitted good job prospects• Became Clerk and Ambassador of Florence in 1494

• Combination of family and education permitted good job prospects• Became Clerk and Ambassador of Florence in 1494• 1494: year Medici family was expelled (became advisor to Piero Soderini)

• Tumultuous period

• Tumultuous period• Various Italian principalities, republics, and kingdoms

• Tumultuous period• Various Italian principalities, republics, and kingdoms • Foreign powers of France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire

• Tumultuous period• Various Italian principalities, republics, and kingdoms • Foreign powers of France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire• Germanic armies

• Member of Florence’s council of diplomacy and military matters

• Member of Florence’s council of diplomacy and military matters• Ambassador to the courts of Louis XII in France, Ferdinand II of Aragón, and the Papacy in Rome

• Member of Florence’s council of diplomacy and military matters• Ambassador to the courts of Louis XII in France, Ferdinand II of Aragón, and the Papacy in Rome• Responsible for the Florentine militia (defeated Pisa in 1509)

Medici Family

“Money to get power and power to guard the money”

Medici Family

• 1512 the Medici and Pope Julius II used Spanish troops to defeat Florence

• 1512 the Medici and Pope Julius II used Spanish troops to defeat Florence• Soderini exiled

• 1512 the Medici and Pope Julius II used Spanish troops to defeat Florence• Soderini exiled• Machiavelli arrested in 1513

• 1512 the Medici and Pope Julius II used Spanish troops to defeat Florence• Soderini exiled• Machiavelli arrested in 1513• Tortured by “the rope”

• 1512 the Medici and Pope Julius II used Spanish troops to defeat Florence• Soderini exiled• Machiavelli arrested in 1513• Tortured by “the rope”• Retired to his father’s estate where he wrote

“TANTO NOMINI NULLUM PAR ELOGIUM”1527

“TANTO NOMINI NULLUM PAR ELOGIUM”1527

“No elegy is equal to such a name”

Written in 1513

Written in 1513

Published in 1532

Who is the text dedicated to?

Who is the text dedicated to?

Lorenzo De’ Medici(1452-1519)

Who is the text dedicated to?

Lorenzo De’ Medici(1452-1519)

Why is this strange?

Some general questions:

• What genre is Machiavelli’s book?

Some general questions:

• What genre is Machiavelli’s book?• What are some characteristics of his style?

Some general questions:

• What genre is Machiavelli’s book?• What are some characteristics of his style?• What are some examples of his most important arguments?

Some general questions:

• What genre is Machiavelli’s book?• What are some characteristics of his style?• What are some examples of his most important arguments? • What tools does he use to make those arguments?

Some general questions:

• What genre is Machiavelli’s book?• What are some characteristics of his style?• What are some examples of his most important arguments? • What tools does he use to make those arguments?• Comment on the role of “Fortune” versus “Skill” in Machiavelli’s vision

Some general questions:

• What genre is Machiavelli’s book?• What are some characteristics of his style?• What are some examples of his most important arguments? • What tools does he use to make those arguments?• Comment on the role of “Fortune” versus “Skill” in Machiavelli’s vision• Where does Machiavelli see religion?

Some general questions:

• What genre is Machiavelli’s book?• What are some characteristics of his style?• What are some examples of his most important arguments? • What tools does he use to make those arguments?• Comment on the role of “Fortune” versus “Skill” in Machiavelli’s vision• Where does Machiavelli see religion?• How does idealism fit into his view of the world?