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The Prince. Niccolo ’ Machiavelli. Machiavelli & His Beloved Florence. Niccolo Machiavelli . Historical Context. Italy was a collection of city-states each with its own court and ruler, attempting to gain power and RETAIN POWER, and was not a unified country
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The Prince Niccolo’ Machiavelli
Machiavelli & His Beloved Florence Niccolo Machiavelli Historical Context Italy was a collection of city-states each with its own court and ruler, attempting to gain power and RETAIN POWER, and was not a unified country French, Spanish, Germans, & Catholic Church all vied for power over Italy Florence: A Republican Gov’t led by the Borgias, then the Medici Family who were driven from power, then REGAINED power in 1512 with the help of Spanish Troops • Life Span: 1469 – 1527: 58 yo • Education: Attended The University of Florence • Occupation: The Second Chancellor of the Republic of Florence (Gov’tPosition) & worked for the Borgias (Rome) • Writings: The Prince in 1513, but was not published until after his death in 1532. Also wrote The Art of War (1521) and The History of Florence • Of Interest: (Wrongly) Exiled after being accused of conspiring against the Medici
What was Machiavelli’s Purpose for Writing The Prince? • To ingratiate himself with the new Florentine Prince Giuliano de’ Medici to be returned to service in the Florentine government as had been his colleagues (He wrote letters for over 14 years asking to return) • Using his political experience and his wide knowledge in history and philosophy, he offers Medici an expert handbook on how to: AQUIRE and MAINTAIN POWER! (Machiavelli knew from first-hand experience that goodness and right were not sufficient to win and maintain political office, thus he seeks to teach the rules of political power) • The Medici NEVER allowed his return, NEVER READ The Prince, and even after the Medici were removed from power and Florence once again returned to a Republic, because the book was dedicated to the Medici, the new government never allowed his return.
Structure of The Prince Divided into Four (4) Parts 1. Chapters 1 – 11 Catalogues the different types of Principalities and the ways they are established and maintained • Chapters 12 – 14 Describes the role of Military Power plays in safeguarding a Prince • Chapters 15 – 23 Lists the general Characteristics and Personal Qualities needed to be an effective ruler • Chapters 24 – 26 Both a historical glimpse of the political climate of Italy in Machiavelli’s time and emotional appeal by Machiavelli for a future ruler who can UNITE the forces of ITALY and LIBERATE the country from foreign rule
Chapter Structure of The Prince Each chapter contains two things: 1) Machiavelli’s Advice; AND 2) Specific & Detailed Examples to Support His Advice.
Part One: The Prince Chapter Title Of the Various Kinds of Princedom, and of the Ways in Which They Are Acquired Of Hereditary Princedoms Of Mixed Princedoms Why the Kingdom of Darius, Conquered By Alexander, Did Not, on Alexander’s Death, Rebel against His Successors ONE TWO THREE FOUR
Part One: The Prince Chapter Title How Cities or Provinces Which before Their Acquisition Have Lived under Their Own Laws Are to Be Governed Of New Princedoms Which a Prince Acquires with His Own Arms and by Merit Of New Princedoms Acquired by the Aid of Others and by Good Fortune Of Those Who by Their Crimes Come to Be Princes FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT
Part One: The Prince Chapter Title Of the Civil Princedom How the Strength of All Princedoms Should Be Measured Of Ecclesiastical Princedoms NINE TEN ELEVEN
Part Two: The Prince Chapter Title How Many Different Kinds of Soldiers There Are, and of Mercenaries Of Auxiliary, Mixed, and National Arms Of the Duty of a Prince in Respect of Military Affairs TWELVE THIRTEEN FOURTEEN
Part Three: The Prince Chapter Title Of the qualities in Respect of Which Men, and Most of All Princes, Are Praised or Blamed Of Liberality and Miserliness Of Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved or Feared How Princes Should Keep Faith That a Prince Should Seek to Escape Contempt And Hatred FIFTEEN SIXTEEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN NINETEEN
Part Three: The Prince Chapter Title Whether Fortresses, and Certain Other Expedients to Which Princes Often Have Recourse, Are Profitable or Hurtful How a Prince Should Bear Himself So as to Acquire Reputation Of the Secretaries of Princes That Flatterers Should Be Shunned TWENTY TWENTY-ONE TWENTY-TWO TWENTY-THREE
Part Four: The Prince Chapter Title Why the Princes of Italy Have Lost Their States What Fortune Can Effect in Human Affairs, and How She May Be Withstood An Exhortation to Liberate Italy from the Barbarians TWENTY-FOUR TWENTY-FIVE TWENTY-SIX
Genre of The Prince? Political Pamphlet: written to educate and instruct readers in the general nature of the proper rules of political conduct, political strategy, and the political process; OR Laudatory Treatise: A flattering expression of praise dedicated to a well-known personality; OR Essay: a long and detailed one that discusses different aspects of one theme in separate chapters. That one theme is, of course, how to rule; OR Letter: a long one written to a friend and intended to share personal confidences and mutual concerns.
View Point #1: Machaivelli as Immoral/Amoral • Immoral: Not conforming to standards of morality • Amoral: Unconcerned with Right or Wrong • Some view Machaivelli as a “Teacher of Evil” • The term “MACHIAVELLIAN” was coined to mean: cunning; scheming; deceitful; unscrupulous (esp. in politics or in advancing one’s career) (characteristic of doing whatever is expedient)
Modern-day Connection: Rapper TupacShakur “Makaveli” • Although a student at Baltimore’s School of the Arts, Tupac read and studied The Prince (more than once while in Prison) • Makaveli became Tupac’s Alter-Ego and he knew the word Machiavelli was associated with controversy • Last album released called Makaveli • AfeniShakur, Tupac’s mother created a line of Makaveli Clothing in 2005.
View Point #2: Machiavelli as a Realist/Pragmatist • Realist: The tendency to present or express things as they really are • Pragmatist: Philosophy of dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences