Machiavelli 2

A detailed Summary of Machiavelli 2

It is said that Machiavelli had great contributions to the world of politics and of political thought. However, a majority of these contributions did not come from speeches, or numerous literary works, like most influential people, (example, Erasmus). His main, and most focused upon literary work is The Prince.

The Prince is a rather short book in which he states the necessity of an all-powerful ruler with no moral constraints. The main focus is for this ruler to come in and do whatever is necessary to unite the dis-unified Italian states into one nation. Machiavelli also explains the way a ruler is most successfully, and efficiently supposed to overcome such a task, with a majority falling on the phrase "the end justifies the means." That one should do whatever is necessary to secure a principality, and should do so with the utmost speed. Any atrocities that person feels necessary to make in the quest to secure this principality he must do it quickly, and to the fullest extent. For example, if one feels the death of the deposed ruler is necessary, (which it usually is), then that person must not only execute that ruler, but any and all family, and close friends that could possibly avenge the deposed ruler's death. The

One of the other most important things he is said to have been is the "first modern political scientist", and the "apostle of power politics". In much fewer words than Machiavelli had used to earn this title, it is because he was one of the firsts to secularize politics. To take politics away from the already declining control of the church and to put it into the rule of a single ruler, which would later be called a sovereign ruler.

Machiavelli was a man in his forties, and had been around power all of his life. He was a diplomat, who went to various other courts around Europe and viewed the running of different types of government. The writing of The Prince occurred around the time of Lorenzo de' Medici the second, (Lorenzo's grandson). He, Lorenzo de Medici, to Machiavelli could prove to be a perfect candidate for his "prince". However, that was not in the cards for him.

Machiavelli was mainly motivated by the disunity of Italy and the constant invasions by the French and Spanish. But he also idolized those of his time with a strong, monarch-type government. Such as the monarchs, Henry of England, Louis of France, and Fernand of Spain, mainly because they possessed an all-powerful rule over their principality. He even used Cesare Borgia as a model to his "prince". Mostly likely it wasn't because he personally liked each one of these individuals, especially Borgia, but instead they served as prime examples as to the all-powerful ruler that he was looking for. Especially Borgia, because Borgia used all necessary, and even corrupt means to gain power and control over the cities of Romagna.

The impact that Machiavelli had on the world is immeasurable. However, his direct effect on Europe of the sixteen

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1169
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History