Why did Machiavelli study ancient history?
I delved into the histories of Rome, particularly the works of Livy, to find models of successful and failed governance. Ancient history provides a vast laboratory of human action and political consequence, unclouded by the immediate passions of my own time. By dissecting the decisions of great leaders and the dynamics of republics in the past, I sought to identify enduring principles of statecraft. These historical examples offered concrete illustrations of the concepts of 'virtù,' the cyclical nature of fortune, and the constant struggle to maintain order against inherent human flaws.
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