NICCOLO

MACHIAVELLI
BARBOSA

VILLANUEVA

EARLY LIFE
Machiavelli was born in Florence,
Italy on 3 May 1469, the second son
of Bernardo di Niccol Machiavelli (a
lawyer) and Bartolommea di Stefano
Nelli. His family were believed to be
descended from the old marquesses
of Tuscany, and were probably quite
wealthy.

EARLY LIFE
an Italian philosopher, political
theorist, diplomat, musician and
writer of the Renaissance period. He
was a central figure in the political
scene of the Italian Renaissance, a
tumultuous period of plots, wars
between city states and constantly
shifting alliances.

WORKS
He is best known today for two main works, the wellknown "The Prince" (a treatise on political realism and
a guide on how a ruler can retain control over his
subjects), and the "Discourses on Livy" (the most
important work on republicanism in the early modern
period).

PHILOSOPHY
The people resemble a wild beast, which, naturally
fierce, and accustomed to live in the woods, has
been brought up, as it were, in a prison and in
servitude, and having by accident got its liberty, not
being accustomed to search for its food, and not
knowing where to conceal itself, easily becomes the
prey of the first who seeks to incarcerate it again.