The Medici Family Returns from Exile

Niccoló Machiavelli was a diplomat in Florence for 14 years while the Medici family was in exile, and attempted to organize a militia against their return. After being found out, he was tortured and jailed, giving him time to step outside the world of politics. Roman history and philosophy inspired authorship of The Prince, a book he wrote during his time outside of politics. This work incorporates values from both the old and new paradigms that were being defined during his era. From the old values, an idolization of cunning and deceitfulness as displayed in the Odyssey. From the new, the idea that destiny is something that can be controlled by decision making rather than falling to the power of fate. His ideas on establishing order and rule may be summed up in this quote from The Prince, "Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved."

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