| Author |
Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527 |
| Translator |
Thomson, Ninian Hill, 1830-1921 |
| Title |
Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius
|
| Note |
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discourses_on_Livy
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 46.8 (College-level). Difficult to read.
|
| Credits |
Ted Garvin, Jayam Subramanian and PG Distributed Proofreaders
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| Summary |
"Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius" by Niccolò Machiavelli is a historical treatise written in the early 16th century. The work serves as an examination of Roman history through the lens of Livy's writings, focusing on the principles of governance, the tension between classes, and the essential nature of freedom in a state. Machiavelli offers insights into how power dynamics shaped Rome's ascent, including the roles of both the Senate and the populace. At the start of the text, Machiavelli introduces the rationale behind his analysis and the importance of learning from history's lessons. He discusses the origins of cities—both from indigenous people and outsiders—and how these beginnings impact their development. The opening chapters delve into the nature of government, contrasting the Roman Republic with city-states like Venice and Sparta, and emphasizing the significance of the tribunes in balancing power between the nobility and the commoners. Through these discussions, Machiavelli sets the stage for a deeper exploration of how internal strife can lead to the strengthening of a republic, as well as the perils that come with corruption and disunity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
JC: Political science: Political theory
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| Subject |
Political science -- Early works to 1800
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| Subject |
Livy. Ab urbe condita
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| Subject |
Rome -- Historiography
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
10827 |
| Release Date |
Jan 1, 2004 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jul 5, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
887 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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