His father, Bernardo, a doctor of laws, was nevertheless among the family’s poorest members. Early life and political careerįrom the 13th century onward, Machiavelli’s family was wealthy and prominent, holding on occasion Florence’s most important offices. Niccolò Machiavelli, (born May 3, 1469, Florence -died June 21, 1527, Florence), Italian Renaissance political philosopher and statesman, secretary of the Florentine republic, whose most famous work, The Prince ( Il Principe), brought him a reputation as an atheist and an immoral cynic. Among his tasks were to establish a militia, undertake diplomatic and military missions, oversee fortifications, and write an official history of the republic. SpaceNext50 Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!įrom the age of 29, when he was placed in charge of the republic of Florence’s foreign affairs in subject territories, Machiavelli held a series of governmental posts.Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them! Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century.100 Women Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.

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