Machiavelli Paper
David Zinland
9/6/13
Period 2
Machiavelli Assignment In The Prince by Machiavelli, he lays out a recommended plan on how to manage the city for the current Prince. His plan is today considered to be manipulative, and diabolical. Machiavelli might be slightly manipulative but I believe that he is still an astute political mind that is seeking to regain his power. For a long time Machiavelli served as the secretary to the Second Chancery in Florence where he travelled on diplomatic missions, gave advice on military tactics and he organized a Florentine militia. After the Medici family came to power he was removed from his job, arrested and tortured. After being exonerated and released he longed to work for the Florentine government again, and the only possible way for him to regain a position was to be noticed by the prince, and present an applicable plan to help the Prince control his people. If I were a prince during the time of Machiavelli, then his methods would be very useful because power was constantly being moved. If I wanted my power to last then I would want to be cunning and feared. His methods of being devious and deceiving are perfect for winning battles and maintaining a city. When acquiring new territory the best way to set it up from the perspective of a prince is as a principality, because then you have all of the power, which is the goal when taking over a new territory. In order to maintain the power you must gain the trust of the people, and turn it in to fear but not hatred. From the perspective of a prince that is the best way to preserve control of your subjects. Machiavelli also talked about how to become a military genius. The prince must be “half human and half beast” in war. If one is only human than he will lose most of his battles to equally strong and stronger powers. The prince must study numerous battle tactics and the geography of his territory to make elaborate battle plans. “A prince ought to have no other aim or
9/6/13
Period 2
Machiavelli Assignment In The Prince by Machiavelli, he lays out a recommended plan on how to manage the city for the current Prince. His plan is today considered to be manipulative, and diabolical. Machiavelli might be slightly manipulative but I believe that he is still an astute political mind that is seeking to regain his power. For a long time Machiavelli served as the secretary to the Second Chancery in Florence where he travelled on diplomatic missions, gave advice on military tactics and he organized a Florentine militia. After the Medici family came to power he was removed from his job, arrested and tortured. After being exonerated and released he longed to work for the Florentine government again, and the only possible way for him to regain a position was to be noticed by the prince, and present an applicable plan to help the Prince control his people. If I were a prince during the time of Machiavelli, then his methods would be very useful because power was constantly being moved. If I wanted my power to last then I would want to be cunning and feared. His methods of being devious and deceiving are perfect for winning battles and maintaining a city. When acquiring new territory the best way to set it up from the perspective of a prince is as a principality, because then you have all of the power, which is the goal when taking over a new territory. In order to maintain the power you must gain the trust of the people, and turn it in to fear but not hatred. From the perspective of a prince that is the best way to preserve control of your subjects. Machiavelli also talked about how to become a military genius. The prince must be “half human and half beast” in war. If one is only human than he will lose most of his battles to equally strong and stronger powers. The prince must study numerous battle tactics and the geography of his territory to make elaborate battle plans. “A prince ought to have no other aim or