The Discourses Chapter Summary & Analysis - Book Two, The Growth of Rome's Empire, Preface, Methods of Expansion, Colonization and War: Its Causes and Cost, Diplomacy and War Summary

Book Two, The Growth of Rome's Empire, Preface, Methods of Expansion, Colonization and War: Its Causes and Cost, Diplomacy and War Summary and Analysis

In the preface to book two, Machiavelli discusses praising the past and hating the present. He claims that human practices are always changing, but the amount of virtue in humanity stays the same and is widely distributed over time. The desires of humans cannot be satisfied, but they change with age.

Sections 1-5 cover the methods by which the Roman Empire expanded. First, Machiavelli asks whether the expansion was caused by virtue or fortune. Machiavelli rejects the fortune explanation, though it never had two large wars at once. When she took over a nation, she helped the people become indifferent to their rulers and used neighbors to enter the nation. Many nearby powers did nothing. Examples are discussed. Next, the sorts of people the Romans fought are discussed; these people often protected their freedom with great stubbornness.

The neighbors of the Romans loved their freedom while Rome had a...
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