| Author |
Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527 |
| Title |
History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy
From the Earliest Times to the Death of Lorenzo the Magnificent
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| Note |
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florentine_Histories
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 39.0 (College-level). Difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by John Bickers; Dagny; David Widger
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| Summary |
"History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy" by Niccolò Machiavelli is a historical account written in the early 16th century. The work provides an in-depth exploration of the political landscape of Florence and Italy, tracking significant events and shifts in power from the early days of the Roman Empire through the political struggles of Machiavelli's own time, culminating with the death of Lorenzo de' Medici. The narrative not only recounts the tumultuous history of the region but also reflects the author's insights on governance and the interplay between political forces. The opening of the book presents a systematic examination of historical invasions that contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire, detailing the impact of various barbarian tribes such as the Visigoths, Vandals, and Huns. Machiavelli highlights the internal strife within the empire following the withdrawal of the emperors to Constantinople, noting how opportunistic leaders like Alaric and Theodoric exploited political fractures to gain control. This set the stage for understanding the complex socio-political dynamics and the eventual rise of localized powers in Italy, which Machiavelli argues are vital for recognizing the shifting landscapes that shaped his own Florence and the broader Italian context. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
DG: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Italy, Vatican City, Malta
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| Subject |
Florence (Italy) -- History
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| Subject |
Italy -- Politics and government
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| Subject |
Italy -- History -- 476-1492
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
2464 |
| Release Date |
Mar 31, 2006 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Feb 7, 2013 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
700 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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