Livy

Livy and Virgil both give accounts of the famous Hercules and Cacus tale. However, they are very different accounts, each having distinct changes. Virgil has an introduction of Aeneas, while Livy has Romulus and Remus. Cacus is known as a man to Livy, but a monster to Virgil. They both have different intentions and motivations for adding these. Both are famous authors, who’s works about the founding of Rome will live on in infamy. Livy and Virgil both mention the founders of Rome just before…

Livy vs Plutarch; a Glimpse at Their Methods The Romans were some of the first detailed historians who were able to really paint a picture of the times when they lived and they took pride in trying to verify their facts as well against other documents. Two such historians, Livy and Plutarch, are amongst the most well know historians of the Roman era. Livy constructed a complete history of Rome from its creation until the death of Augustus, whom Livy served under. Plutarch wrote many…

Machiavelli came from a family of Florentine officials, though was never a outright citizen of Florence, due to the rules of the republic staging him as an outsider. The era in which Machiavelli had entered was one of common invasions by neighboring powers such as Rome, other city-states. The need for power came from the neighbors of Italy such as the Holy Roman Empire, France and Spain to control the region. The constant fluctuations in the newly formed Political-military alliances continually…

In the article “Subdue the Senate: Machiavelli’s Way of Freedom or Path to Tyranny” author John P. McCormick sets out to make the distinction between tyranny and civic leadership. McCormick states that Machiavelli “was fully aware of the tension between leaderly initiative and popular rule…” McCormick points out the conflict in Machiavelli’s argument by stating “How can a single individual follow Machiavelli's advice about favoring the people over the few without becoming a tyrant in the process…

Reading the works of Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu in succession highlight how truly at opposition the messages are. Though both pieces express the desired way to govern a people, the “Tao-te Ching” speaks of peace, simplicity, and letting the universe work its will, while “The Qualities of the Prince” emphasizes the necessity for war, and the natural wickedness of men. There are no particular reasons that these two ways of thought should be in harmony, one written in the 6th century, and the other…

Niccolò Machiavelli is known as the “father of modern political theory” and is known for writing The Prince. The Prince is known as an instruction manual on how to be a leader and how to run a government and dedicated the book Lorenzo de' Medici. The Prince has a lot of fantastic concepts and ideas however some of the concepts do not apply to today’s world. Businesses today need leaders that shows compassion and cares more about the workers than gaining more power. Compassion leaders are…

Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince is a depiction of how a “prince” or namely anyone in a position of power is to act toward his subjects, army, adversaries, etc. The development of Machiavelli’s worldview can be better explained by his time spent as a diplomat, statesman, and prisoner, as his many interactions with individuals in positions of power led him to formulate his theories on power and how it should be maintained. The Prince was a unique piece of writing for its time, in what it praises…

Tumult is inherent in the conception of a free and thriving republic. In Niccolò Machiavelli’s Discourses on Livy, this is a central claim as to how republics can remain successful. Machiavelli uses the Discourses as an opportunity to celebrate free states, and illustrate how these states came to being. He uses examples from the past as a key guide to determining the future for those in charge of establishing a republic. Specifically, Machiavelli likens the prowess of Rome to how a proper…

account of the law’s repeal begins by describing the restrictions on women set forth by the law. These restrictions include “owning more than half an ounce of gold, wearing fancy clothes, or riding in carriages through the city or town” (Sources, 69A). Livy then describes the scene at the Capitol when protests broke out demanding the law’s repeal. Apart from the growing number of women that publicly protested the law, Livy’s account depicts a divided atmosphere…

1. Livy’s purpose for writing many historical accounts was to inspire the people of Rome to be better citizens. Livy accomplished this by recounting the stories of monumental individuals from Rome’s past who fulfilled political duties in an honorable way and helped to establish the foundation of the city’s traditions and values. 2. Nautius and Minucius were the 2 consuls of the Roman Republic in 458 BC who fought a war against the Sabines. Nautius is more successful because he constructed an…