Personal Experiences
Why was Machiavelli imprisoned and tortured?
He was falsely suspected of conspiring to overthrow the Medici family (unjustly suspected of involvement in an assassination attempt)
Identify the five main competing city-states of 15th century Italy.
Kingdom of Naples, Papal States, Republic of Florence, Venice and Duchy of Milan.
Identify the names of the two historical figures/leaders that Machiavelli uses as exemplifications of effective and ineffective leadership.
Girolamo Savonarola (ineffective)
Cesare Borgia (effective)
What studies did Humanism revive?
Classical Greek and Roman Literature
The form/text type of The Prince
Political treatise
What role did he predominantly hold for most of his career?
A senior political diplomat in Florence (Chancellor of Florence).
Explain why Italy's landscape was a place of constant political turbulence and violence.
Each state sought to expand their territory and were in constant conflict. All were under constant threat from the other states. Whenever one city-state appeared to be achieving ascendancy, the others would unite to halt its progress.
Machiavelli used THIS figure as his primary example of a successful prince because of his political prowess and strategic charisma.
Cesare Borgia
Define Renaissance Humanism.
Renaissance Humanism was an intellectual movement that began during the 14th century. THis movement began to shift away from reliance on God and increasingly affirm human agency.It promoted the belief that humans are the centre of their own universe; the belief that man has beauty, worth, and dignity by their own virtue, not through God.
When a text intends to teach, particularly in having moral instruction. The language reflects instructional/informative qualities.
Didacism / didadic tone
What violent punishment for conspirators did Machiavelli witness as a child AND at what age?
At age 9, Machiavelli witnessed Pazzi conspirators hung upside down from the government building and left to rot, after their efforts to assassinate and overthrow the ruling Medici family.
Which government ruled Florence in the late 15th century? (1434-1494).
The Medici family
Which extremist preacher took over Florence, criticising the pope for encouraging corruption and a pleasure-seeking world, and attempted to 'cleanse' Florence into a 'New Jerusalem'?
Girolamo Savonarola
Medieval education focused on the study of ________ works and literature while humanist education focused on the study of __________ works and literature.
religious; classical (Ancient Greek/Roman)
The literary genre in which the book aims to instruct rulers on successful governance. The Prince is an appropriation of this genre
Who were his parents and how did they influence his worldviews (especially around power/morality/identity)?
Father: an ex-lawyer - encouraged his engagement with classical Ancient Greek/Roman literature and Humanist beliefs
Mother: extremely devout Christian and writer of religious poems - inspired his writing skills
Explain how the republican government system in Florence operated under the Medici family's rule.
Every two months, new leaders were elected from a lottery selection to ensure fair representation. However, the Medici family manipulated and controlled the electoral process, so that names in the lottery bag were friendly to their cause.
Florence was thus only a republican state by name and appearance; in reality they more closely reflected a dictatorship rule.
Explain why Machiavelli disapproved of Savonarola's leadership style.
Machiavelli disapproved of Savonarola's religious fundamentalism. He also witnessed how his religious extremism caused public dissent, which led to his inability to control his subjects, and thereby his inability to maintain power.
Identify four key values and principles of Humanism
- Emphasis on human potential and agency as opposed to God
- Importance of education and revival of classical literature
- Civic duty: individuals have a responsibility to participate and contribute meaningfully to society
- Scientific rationalism: encouraged the use of reason and science to understand the world, rather than relying solely on religious faith or tradition.
A system of politics or principles based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations
Realpolitik
Where did Machiavelli retreat to upon his release and exile AND what did he do there?
His family estate where he wrote The Prince to reestablish his political role in his beloved Florence.
During Renaissance Italy, Florence's government can be described using the following two terms:
- Theocracy:
- Non-secular society
Define each.
Theocracy: a state that is governed by a government that closely binds its authority to religion
Non-secular society: a society where religious beliefs and practices significantly influence all aspects of society.
Why does Machiavelli respect and support Borgia's leadership style? AND
Provide a historical event that exemplifies Borgia's leadership style.
Machiavelli respected and supported Borgia's ruthlessness, ability to assess situations and then act decisively in whatever manner would ensure he maintained power, even if it meant ignoring Christian moral principles.
In 1503, Borgia invited a group of rebels (Orsini family) to negotiations and as soon as they arrived he had them executed
How was Machiavelli influenced by Humanist principles? Identify how he both ALIGNS with and DIVERGES from Humanist values.
Alignments::
Secularism: Humanism promoted a secular outlook that emphasised human agency and the pursuit of worldly knowledge and pleasures. Machiavelli's work"The Prince" reflect this secular perspective by focusing on pragmatic political strategies rather than moral or theological considerations of being a ruler.
Individualism: Humanism celebrated the individual and their capacity for reason and self-improvement. Machiavelli's writings acknowledge the agency of individual leaders and the importance of their actions to acquire + maintain power.
Divergence:
Morality: Humanists advocated for morally virtuous behaviour and civic duty; Machiavelli's writings are often characterised by a stark realism that prioritises the acquisition and maintenance of power above moral considerations.
Identify 4x key form features of The Prince
1. Rigid structure of short, sharp titles offering clear advice
2. Historical exemplifications / logos
3. Personal anecdotes of his Florentine dipolomacy experiences (ethos)
4. Blunt, direct assertions / simple syntax
5. Analogies
6. Instructional tone
7. High modality and imperative language
8. Conversational tone