1469-1527
Humanist, Diplomat, And Political Theorist

Perfect Timing. Born into a prominent, though a somewhat poorer branch of a Florentine family, Niccolo Machiavelli became a noted civic humanist. He was classically educated and applied this background to his work as a public servant for the city of Florence. Machiavelli was politically active at an exciting time for humanists. The Medici family had recently been expelled from Florence (1494), and the city reverted to a Republican form of government. This change meant that humanists had an opportunity to apply their theories of good government. Machiavelli participated on many diplomatic missions and was able to observe leading figures of Italian politics such as Cesare Borgia and Pope Julius II. During this time much of Italy was under siege because the king of France on two occasions marched huge armies through the small Italian territories en route to conquering Naples...