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Based on what you already know about Niccolò Machiavelli, how would you describe his political ideas?What does it mean to describe someone as “Machiavellian”?

THE FALL OF ROMERemember …Rome’s Monarchy 1000 to 509 BCRome’s Republic 509-31 BCERome’s Empire 31 BCE-476

THE FALL OF ROME →MACHIAVELLI

• To help administration of such a large area, the Roman Empire splits under Emperor Diocletian•Reunited briefly under Constantine

• The Western Roman Empire falls in 476 CE•Germanic Tribes take over the west• The Eastern Roman Empire lasts until 1453

THE FALL OF ROME →MACHIAVELLI

• The Papacy (Pope) gains political power•Germanic tribes blend War Chief rulers with Roman administrative systemsRESULT: Start to see development of Kingdoms

•By the 13th Century some Kings are very powerful (England, France)•German kings are more divided• Italy is divided into city-states

Watch Dark Ages Crash Course Clip!

MACHIAVELLI’S ITALY

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)•Between 1498 and 1512 Florence was a Republic-Machiavelli was a state official for many years

• In 1512 Cardinal Giovanni de Medici and the Papal troops recaptured Florence

•Machiavelli was exiled. He writes The Prince in 1513.

CONTEXT FOR THE PRINCE• I am going to read you some information to give you context for Machiavelli and his book the Prince. Please listen carefully and answer the following question once I’m done:

Describe Machiavelli’s frame of reference and what events shaped it.

OVERVIEW OF THE PRINCE

•A practical guide for the Prince who wants to get and keep power•Types of Principalities•Types of Armies•The Character and Behavior of a Prince• Italy’s Political Situation

THEMES OF THE PRINCE1. Human Nature

Prince must take into account man’s real nature (generally ungrateful, selfish, and greedy) and use it to advantage.

2. Ideal v. RealSometimes political requirements override moral

considerations.

3. “Virtu”Political success depends on “Virtu” – strength, ability, courage, and vitality

THEMES (CONTINUED)

4. FortuneAlthough Machiavelli believes in the application of “virtu”,

he admits some things are out of the Prince’s control

5. Qualities of the RulerThe Prince must be like the lion and the fox – brave and

strong, but also sly

6. Military ForceThe art of war is important, but must have loyal soldiers (not mercenaries).“The best fortress is to be found in the love of the people”

THEMES (CONTINUED)

7. PatriotismFrench, Spanish, German armies trying to

gain control of Italy – Italy’s problem was military weakness.

Wanted Lorenzo de’ Medici to free Italy from foreign domination

MACHIAVELLI VS. MAKAVELI• Video clip and article•Unit portfolio project description

ABSOLUTISMIn theory and in practice1618-1715

ABSOLUTISM IN THEORY•  system of governing where the king as having absolute

power, they mean that he did not share the power to make laws with national representative assemblies; in other words he was "sole legislator." • Absolute monarchs claimed that they held power by divine

right. • They also claimed that they were above the law and as the

highest judge in the land could not be held accountable for their actions. This meant that they acted for reasons of state, i.e. the benefit of the entire kingdom, and therefore could not be expected to observe the rights and liberties of their subjects.

ABSOLUTISM IN PRACTICE•Most seventeenth-century kings did not have the resources and power to impose their will on the entire people of their country. However, they still tried and most followed a similar pattern of ruling.• In the seventeenth century, European monarchs took several steps to ensure their authority was held supreme within the state.

STEPS TO ABSOLUTISM1. First, they eliminated or weakened national

representative assemblies. 2. Second, they subordinated the nobility to the

king and made them dependent on his favor, while excluding them from positions of power.

3. Third, the kings established centralized bureaucracies that collected taxes, recruited soldiers, and operated the judiciary.

ABSOLUTISM IN PRACTICE

•The two European countries where royal absolutism first became the form of rule were France and Spain. •While France under Louis XIV became the model of an absolutist state, which others sought to copy, Spain established forms of absolutist rule, but never matched the achievements of France.

"L'ÉTAT, C'EST MOI" ("I AM THE STATE!")

KING LOUIS XIV OF FRANCE •What Louis did say was: "The interests of the state come first. When one gives these priority, one labors for one's own good. These advantage to the state redounds to one's glory.". • Although often criticized for his extravagances, such as the Palace of Versailles, he reigned over France for a long period, and some historians consider him a successful absolute monarch.

FRANCE CONTINUED• The King of France concentrated in his person legislative, executive, and judicial powers. He was the supreme judicial authority. He could condemn men to death without the right of appeal. It was both his duty to punish offenses and stop them from being committed. From his judicial authority followed his power both to make laws and to annul them.

MODERN EXAMPLE: SAUDI ARABIA

•Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, although, according to the Basic Law of Saudi Arabia adopted by royal decree in 1992, the king must comply with Shari'a (Islamic law) and the Qur'an. • The Qur'an and the corpus of Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet Muhammad) are declared to be the Kingdom's constitution, but no written modern constitution has ever been written for Saudi Arabia, which remains the only Arab nation where no national elections have ever taken place since its founding.