Machiavelli in Context | Why Did Machiavelli Write The Prince? (Lecture 5)

Lecture 5: We know a great deal about the circumstances in which Machiavelli wrote what has become his most famous work, The Prince. Although much of that knowledge comes from The Prince itself, we also have letters that Machiavelli wrote from his country estate, where he composed that powerful little book.

In studying The Prince, we also come to realize that, although Machiavelli owes a great deal to classical writers from whom he borrowed examples and ideas, he is quite original in his thoughts and theories, disagreeing with both Aristotle and Cicero.

Recommended Readings:
Maurizio Viroli, “Introduction,” in Machiavelli’s The Prince, translated by Peter Bondanella, pp. vii–xxxix.