Italy lay in shambles in the late 15th and 16th century, and the threat of foreign nations and heightened political dissension ravaged this nation. The city-states of Florence, Milan, Venice, and Naples all sought dominion over each other, while the power-hungry French, Spanish, and Germanic forces closed in at all fronts. It was during these critical times that a young Florentine diplomat by the name of Niccoló Machiavelli observed the flourishing kingdoms around, and the success and failures of monarchies. In his longing for a united Italian empire, Machiavelli wrote to the new Florentine ruler, Lorenzo de Medici, offering him a guideline for dealing in government affairs, and how a Prince must conduct himself for political success and prosperity.
