1. Niccolo Machiavelli & The Prince

2. Machiavelli’s Life (1469-1527) Early life (1469-1494)  Old Florentine family  Humanist education Rise in Florentine politics (1494-1512)  Helped depose Savonarola (1498)  Secretary of gov’t. agency on warfare & foreign affairs (1498-1512)  Assistant to head of Florentine Rep., Piero Soderini (1502-1512)  Medici depose Soderini & Machiavelli accused of involvement with plot to overthrow Medici (1512)

3. Machiavelli’s Life continued… Banishment/absence from politics (1512-1521)  Discourses – on republics  The Prince – on principalities Return to politics/final years (1521-1527)  Official historian of Florence + minor gov’t. jobs  Ousted again – this time for ties to Medici  dies from illness

4. The Prince principality vs. republic practical guide vs. idealism (More’s Utopia) purpose: how a prince is to gain & maintain power Lorenzo di Piero de Medici (1492-1519) - Duke of Urbino - Leader of Florence (1513-1519)

5. Themes in The Prince 1. human nature 2. the art of war 3. the ends justify the means / abandonment of Christian morality (amoral politics) 4. goodwill vs. hatred 5. traits of a prince: virtues vs. vices 6. virtú (personal prowess) vs. fortune (chance) – what role does each play in how a prince comes to power (free will?)