Content

1. The Prince, Chap. 7-8

• Excerpts from Machiavelli’s The Prince

Machiavelli

• His life, his careers and his mindset

  Niccolò Machiavelli

  Niccolò Machiavelli

• The Prince and the concept of Renaissance

  • Letter to Francesco Vettori (Dec. 10, 1513)

• The historical context

  • The political fragmentation of Italy
  • Florence, from city state to Signoria

Key Concepts

• Contextual, pragmatic truth vs. universal truth
  • Paolo and Francesca (Inferno, 5) vs. Ciappelletto (Decameron, 1.1)
• Nature and natural skills
  • Success and ecosystems
  • “Fortune”
• Leadership
  • The leader and the mass

The Ideal Prince (Chap. 7)

• Cesare Borgia
• The plans of Pope Alexander VI
• Goals and strategies
• Force and influence used to restore order in Romagna
• Bad Fortune
• Eventual failure