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Rosy Hastir, Lovely Professional University
Unit 5: Niccolo Machiavelli
Amandeep Singh, Lovely Professional University

Unit 5: Niccolo Machiavelli Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
5.1 Life Sketch
5.2 Renaissance and its Impact
5.3 Machiavelli’s Political Theory
5.4 Science of Statecraft
5.5 Summary
5.6 Key-Words
5.7 Review Questions
5.8 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit students will be able to:
• Discuss Machiavelli’s Political Theory.
• Explain the Science of Statecraft.
• Understand Separation of Ethics from Politics.

Introduction

Themes and ideas during Machiavelli’s time, society was much different than it had been for
previous philosophers. Instead of storing up good works, so as to enjoy paradise, as the medieval
man did, the Renaissance man was interested in all things, enjoyed life, strove for worldly acclaim
and wealth, and had a deep interest in classical civilizations. He was born at a time of conflict
within Florence, Italy, between the republican leaders and the family of the Medici’s, of which the
Machiavelli’s, especially, had a history of opposition towards. After years of conflict between
powers, Machiavelli was exiled from his country. It was during this exile that he wrote his most
famous work, The Prince, a piece about political power. Growing up, and through his time in
political office, Machiavelli studied the men and/or groups in power, specifically noting their
successes and failures. Using this information from his observations, Machiavelli wrote The Prince
in order to try to re-enter politics by “assisting” the man whom had exiled him, Lorenzo de
Medici, in his ruling. Though this was more of a plot to try to gain the favour of Lorenzo, he does
note in his book that in order to gain the favour of a prince, you must present him with a gift; that
was the purpose of his novel. In it, Machiavelli analysis’s the various types of monarchies, analysis’s
of the different types of states, how they may be obtained, and how they should be ruled. He also
describes how power is seized and retained, how to rule the military forces and, the essence of his
work, how a prince should act in all circumstances in order to accomplish these tasks.

5.1 Life Sketch

Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy on May 3, 1469. He was the third child in a family that was
neither rich nor aristocratic, but well-connected with the city’s famed humanistic circles. The year
Machiavelli was born was the one when Lorenzo de Medici (1449–1492), referred to as “Lorenzo

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