Niccolo Machiavelli. His views revolved around the ideas that one must do anything within his power to keep the influence and strength that he has attained. And according to him, this is best achieved by keeping the people in constant fear.

The first 200 words of this essay...

One of the most famous philosophers of the 15th century is the Florentine Niccolo Machiavelli. Notorious for his almost radical stand on leadership, Machiavelli was one of the first philosophers to break free from "ethical" constraints. Born in 1946, Europe at the time of Machiavelli was in political upheaval. The Church's power was in decline, losing its power as unifying government, Spain and France were pushing their way in Italy, and Italy itself was a melange of bickering city-states.

This climate of political uncertainty greatly affected Machiavelli's political theories. Furthermore, Machiavelli's two main books were written after he was forced to retire from his job by the establishment of a tyranny in Florence by Lorenzo Medici. From his position in the foreign office, Machiavelli went into exile on a farm, where he remained to his dying day. Disillusioned by the state of his country as well as his personal life, Machiavelli wrote two books entitled Discourses and The Prince, which were instructional books on running a state.

His views revolved around the ideas that one must do anything within his power to keep the influence and strength that he has attained. And according to him,