Macchiavelli
1469-1527
1. What is Macchiavelli's home city?
2. What position did he hold there?
3. Where was he when he wrote The Prince?

4. What is the purpose of the book?
5. What opinion does Macchiavelli have of man's nature?
6. Is Macchiavelli an idealist or a realist?
"Letter to Francesco Vettori"
1. Where is Macchiavelli living?
2. How does he spend his days?
3. How does he spend his evenings?

The Prince
1. Is Macchiavelli concerned with the "real" or the "ideal"?
2. Does he think men live the way they ought to?
3. Does he believe a prince must be good?
4. Which vices should a prince avoid?
5. Is liberality essential in a prince?
6. When can a prince be most liberal?
7. How does Macchiavelli's final evaluation of liberality compare with the Christian view?
8. What must a prince guard against most?
9. Should a prince always be compassionate?
10. Which is "more secure"--"to be feared" or "to be loved"?
11. Why is taking property away such a bad policy?
12. What is essential to the prince's keeping the army united and alert?
13. Why did Scipio's armies mutiny?
14. What are the two ways of fighting?
15. Which beasts may a prince have to imitate?
16. What relationship to all the named virtues must a ruler have?
17. How much of our life does Fortune control?
18. What can man do to be prepared for the ravages of Fortune?
19. What determines the best method?
20. Who was successful with rash action?
21. When are men successful?
22. What does Italy need?
23. Who can provide this need?
24. Why have Italian armies failed in the past?
25. What kind of an army is needed?
26. What does Macchiavelli call the new ruler?