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Machiavelli, The Prince For History Seminars – Reading Guide Read Dedication, Chapters 1 – 7, 15 – 19, 24 - 26 carefully. Read about half of this for the first seminar and the rest for the second seminar. Skim the other chapters to get a sense of main point and types of evidence mentioned. Background: Niccolo Machiavelli was a Florentine born in 1469 when the Medici were in power. Under the Medici, Florence was a republic in name only since those who were not friends of the Medici were excluded from political power. When the Medici were exiled in 1492, a more genuine republic was restored and Machiavelli entered political service. When the Medici returned to power in 1513, Machiavelli lost his office and was imprisoned and tortured on their orders. He moved to his country home outside of Florence where he wrote The Prince, dedicating it to Lorenzo de Medici, grandson of Lorenzo the Magnificent. “Interpretations of The Prince vary: it has been viewed as sincere advice, as a plea for political office, as a detached analysis of Italian politics, as evidence of early Italian nationalism, and as a political satire on the Medici rule” (The Columbia Encyclopedia 1647). Please consider these interpretations as you read. Some general questions to consider: Dedication: What is the tone of the dedication? Machiavelli has been called a sycophant (“a servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people”). Would you agree? Explain. What types of evidence does Machiavelli use throughout this work? Chapter 7: Cesare Borgia (Duke Valentino) was the son of Pope Alexander VI—a very worldly Renaissance pope. The two were trying to establish a powerful kingdom in central Italy tied both to the papacy and the Borgia family. What are some the key accomplishments of Cesare Borgia? What went wrong for Cesare Borgia? What is Machiavelli’s purpose in chapters 1 – 7 (taken as a whole)? Try making a list of the qualities that Machiavelli thinks an effective ruler must have. In The Humanistic Tradition, Gloria K. Fiero gives the following description of the Renaissance humanists: “The humanists of the Renaissance were the cultural archaeologists of their age. They uncovered new evidence of the splendor of Greco-Roman antiquity and consumed the fruits of their Western heritage. Unattached to any single school or university, this new breed of humanists pursued what the ancient Romans had called studia humanitas, a program of study that embraced grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and moral philosophy. These branches of learning fostered training in the moral and aesthetic areas of human knowledge. . . While such an educational curriculum was assuredly not antireligious—indeed, most Renaissance humanists were devout Catholics—its focus was secular rather than religious. For these humanists, life on earth was not a vale of tears but, rather, an extended occasion during which human beings might cultivate their unique talents and abilities.” (Fiero 23) In your opinion, is Machiavelli a humanist? Why or why not? Machiavelli, The Prince – Chapter Questions For all chapters: 1. For each chapter, consider: a. what is the thesis of the chapter? b. what types of evidence does M. use: classical, contemporary, biblical, mythical? Dedication: 2. What is the tone of the dedication? Machiavelli has been called a sycophant (“a servile selfseeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people”). Do you agree? Explain. Chapter 1: 3. After you’ve analyzed Chapters 1–7, re-visit Chapter 1. What is the point of Chapter 1? Chapter 2: 4. Machiavelli praises republics in his Discourses upon Livy. Why do you think he leaves republics out entirely from The Prince? Chapter 3: 5. Why is it so difficult to rule a Mixed Princedom? 6. What are some of the key recommendations Machiavelli makes in this chapter? Chapter 7: 7. Cesare Borgia (Duke Valentino) and his father, Pope Alexander VI, were trying to establish a powerful kingdom in central Italy tied both to the papacy and the Borgia family. What are some accomplishments of Cesare Borgia? What went wrong for Cesare Borgia? Chapter 15: 8. What are the important virtues and vices to acquire and to avoid? Why? Chapter 16: 9. What does Machiavelli mean by “liberal”? 10. According to Machiavelli, in what circumstances is being “liberal” a good idea? Miserly? Chapter 17: 11. Is it better to be feared or loved? Why? What are the two main examples he gives? Chapter 18: 12. What is the gist of the lion and fox analogy? 13. What lesson does Machiavelli take from Pope Alexander VI (Cesare Borgia’s papa)? Chapter 19: 14. What brought about Alexander’s downfall, according to Machiavelli? Do you see any problems with the conclusion he draws from the lessons of Alexander? Chapter 24: 15. This chapter turns to one of Machiavelli’s favorite topics: why Italy has so many weak rulers and what can be done about them. What does the example of Philip of Macedon (as he says, not the father of Alexander) let Machiavelli say about the Italian rulers?