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Biography of Niccolo Machiavelli Essay

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Biography of Niccolo Machiavelli Machiavelli was born in 1469, into an Italy, which was probably less feudal than any other European country at that time. Europe at this time was in a state of political upheaval. The Church's power was in decline, losing its power as unifying government, Spain and France were pushing their way in Italy, and Italy itself was a melange of bickering city-states. This climate of political uncertainty greatly affected Machiavelli's political theories. Machiavelli began his political career at the age of twenty-five. However, he did not achieve recognition until 1498 when he obtained a prestigious appointment to become secretary to the Council of Ten, An executive …show more content…

He had a pessimistic view of men, describing them as wicked, fickle and selfish; "They shun danger and are greedy for profit; while you treat them well, they are yours. They would shed their blood for you … but when you are in danger they turn against you believing that all men really wanted was power, money and glory". [Machiavelli, reprinted 1975, p.44.] Machiavelli believes that the state is only created if the people cooperate and work to maintain it. The state is also one of man's greatest endeavours, and it takes precedence over everything else. It should be one's primary focus, and maintaining its sovereignty one's most vital concern. The state is founded on the power of its military. Hence a strong military is important for its survival. Machiavelli's book The Prince deals with the making of a society in which the people are corrupt. "Machiavelli freely prescribes for the man who wishes to acquire power and glory in a corrupt republic by becoming a tyrant rather than a public-spirited reformer." [Bluhm, 1971, p.213.] Addressed to Lorenzo De Medici (the new ruler of Florence), The Prince's aim is to tell a ruler how to become a good tyrant. According to Machiavelli a prince must posses the virtues that should have been present in a good

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