Niccolo Machiavelli :: essays research papers

Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. He eventually became a man who lived his life for politics and patriotism. Right now, however, he is associated with corrupt, totalitarian political relation. The reason for this is a small pamphlet he wrote called The Prince to go on influence with the ruling Medici family in Florence. The policy-making genius of Niccolo Machiavelli was overshadowed by the character that was unfairly given to him because of a misunderstanding of his views on politics. Machiavellis life was precise interesting. He lived a nondescript childhood in Florence, and his main political experience in his youth was watching Savanarola from afar. Soon after Savanarola was executed, Machiavelli entered the Florentine government as a secretary. His position quickly rose, however, and was soon benignant in diplomatic missions. He met many of the important politicians of the day, such as the Pope and the King of France, alone none had more im pact on him than a prince of the Papal States, Cesare Borgia. Borgia was a cunning, feral man, very much the like the one portrayed in The Prince. Machiavelli did not truly like Borgias policies, but he thought that with a ruler like Borgia the Florentines could unite Italy, which was Machiavellis goal throughout his life. Unfortunately for Machiavelli, he was dismissed from office when the Medici came to rule Florence and the land was overthrown. The lack of a job forced him to switch to writing approximately politics instead of being active. His diplomatic missions were his last official government positions.When Machiavelli lost his office, he desperately treasured to return to politics. He essay to gain the favor of the Medici by writing a book of what he thought were the Medicis goals and dedicating it to them. And so The Prince was written for that purpose. Unfortunately, the Medici didnt agree with what the book said, so he was out of a job. But when the public saw the book, they were outraged. The people wondered how cruel a man could be to think evil thoughts like the ones in The Prince, and this would come back to haunt him when he was alive and dead. However, if the people wanted to know what Machiavelli really stood for, they should have read his "Discourses on Livy", which explain his wax political philosophy. But not enough people had and have, and so the legacy of The Prince continues to define Machiavelli to the general public.