Machiavelli Week 2

Question 1

Focus of this

Answer 1

the framework of morality which M departed and the learnings he got from bis missions that he distilled in The Prince

Question 2

Discuss the Early Modern World View of Degree

Answer 2

the universe is divinely ordered where things have a degree in a specific place

Question 3

How does Shakespeare allude to this

Answer 3

in Act 1 Scene 3 in Shakespeares Troilus and Cressida, Ulysses’s speech suggests that God has given everything a divinely appointed place because he knows what he is doing. To mess around with this degree and order means you will be in trouble - Shakespeare alludes to floods and natural disasters in this extract.

Question 4

Discuss the Early Modern World View of Order

Answer 4

things are appointed in certain ways

Question 5

give an example of a scholar commenting on this

Answer 5

Sir Thomas Eliot discussed that to take away order of the world and its peculiar disposition means chaos - he thought change was a bad thing. wanted things to stay the same because change meant we were challenging the way things were divinely appointed.

Question 6

why is this not the reality though

Answer 6

the 16th century was a time of major change - rising through or falling through social structures. the practices of the time were ones of change rather than static

Question 7

Discuss the Early Modern World View of Divine Law

Answer 7

the Bible and its order of moral conduct

Question 8

what is it set out by?

Answer 8

special revelations in the Bible - two key passages are:
THE OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 20: 3-17 - the ten commandments
NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew 5:3-12

Question 9

what were the limitations

Answer 9

were aware of these prescriptions but due to the vernacular boundaries they were unable to read this first hand

Question 10

Discuss the Early Modern World View of The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy

Answer 10

seven examples of how to live life basically

Question 11

what are these

Answer 11

Feeding the hungry
Drink to thirsty
Clothing naked
Burying dead
Sheltering traveller
Comforting the sick
Ransoming the captive

Question 12

Discuss the Early Modern World View of Salvation

Answer 12

the concept of life after death and what the fate of your soul was

Question 13

how does this link to original sin

Answer 13

breaking God’s presceptions so expelled - reconciliation with God is salvation. which was done by Jesus Christ on behalf of Christians - a substitutionary atonement

Question 14

what is grace

Answer 14

spiritual fuel that tops up spiritual health and relationship with God

Question 15

what are the seven sacraments

Answer 15

a cycle Christians followed that meant they regularly engaged with the Church through baptism and channels of grace

Question 16

What is merit

Answer 16

way to assist passage of soul to heaven - accumulate credit.

Question 17

Discuss the Early Modern World View of ‘The Social Miracle’ - (John Bossy)

Answer 17

knowing your place and recognising your stance in society

Question 18

What are some key topics that he discusses

Answer 18

Living in charity
Observing Civilities
Resolving disputes
Establishing Relationships

Question 19

What was Machiavelli’s Political Context

Answer 19

Italy - was not unified until 1870. It comprised of many independent states of differing types and sizes

Question 20

what were foreign relations like

Answer 20

they were not just with France or the Holy Roman Empire but with Napes or Siena

Question 21

overall what was the context

Answer 21

pretty unstable

Question 22

what was an extremely important commodity

Answer 22

land

Question 23

After Savonarola was deposed in 1498 what happened

Answer 23

An anti-Savonarola republican regime seized power and M was appointed to the new government serving the committee that dealt with foreign affairs meaning he was sent on several missions that shaped his views on statecraft

Question 24

What was his first mission

Answer 24

1500 - sent on a mission to Louis XII of France who saw the Florentine regime as slow and indecisive and unimportant - saw how the French saw the Florentines

Question 25

What did he realise

Answer 25

important to be decisive in order to not be rejected

Question 26

What was his second mission

Answer 26

1502 - to Cesare Borgia, Duke of Romagna who was a ruthless figure that hugely impressed Machiavelli in the way that he established his authority.

Question 27

What did he realise

Answer 27

Realised that he was taking advantage of good fortune

Question 28

What was his next mission?

Answer 28

in 1503 and 1506 to the Papal Court - Pope Julius II - who was morally unimpressive but had an intention to expel the French out of Italy - a warlike Pope which obviously impressed Machiavelli

Question 29

what did he realise

Answer 29

he took advantage of circumstances and was decisive and courageous

Question 30

final mission

Answer 30

1507-08 to the Emperor Maximilian I who was the head of the House of Hapsburg - was not impressed by him because he constantly changed perspectives and struggled to make first opinions

Question 31

what did he realise

Answer 31

lack of making good decisions made him a shitty ruler in comparison to the rest

Question 32

what can be concluded

Answer 32

he hugely departed from statesmanship of the time and his missions inspired him - his ideas caused shockwaves across Europe as well.