Reflection on Machiavelli
Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469 in Florence, Italy. Florence was considered one of the most dominant Italian power to conquer. It was the main attraction for the renaissance's influences. Throughout the years, Machiavelli's presence was around the time that both the French and Spanish armies were fighting over the control of Italy. During this time, Italy was falling apart because it was deficient in leadership. Machiavelli served 14 years as Chancellor of Florence before he was exiled in 1513. The Republic had fallen and the Medicis returned in power. While in exile, Machiavelli knew the world was changing and becoming more chaotic; he wrote the book The Prince. The Prince was written to emphasize his thoughts that Italy was on the edge to its pitfall, and leadership and unity was needed to take and maintain control. The Prince is a type of guidance for ruling, and was especially written to help Lorenzo de' Medici stay in power. It stresses on managing public affairs and war craft, favor and hatred, free choice, goodness, and human nature followed politically. In Machiavelli's book, he pointed out that the lack of order and unity in Italy put the people of Italy in danger. That stronger neighbors would dominate the Italian people. His thoughts greatly desired for a leader to bring Italy together and maintain enough power to stabilize control of Italy to be able to stand strong against foreigners. His words expresses the necessary act for action, and to have the acknowledgement of what must be needed to succeed. Furthermore, Machiavelli's way of thinking was to accept and deal with the world as it is, rather than trying to see how it should be. For instance, a Prince understands how to lead because it's within customs. Changing such customs only lead to new changes that people would rebel on because they are not used to it. Personally, trying to ignore of how the world should be will only lead to ruin because changes are sometimes necessary.