In Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, Niccolò Machiavelli turns his attention to the rise of the Roman Republic to uncover the principles that shape strong states and lasting political institutions. Reflecting on the history recorded by the Roman historian Livy, Machiavelli examines the forces that build, preserve, and ultimately threaten republics. Through sharp observation and bold analysis, he explores the nature of power, the role of civic virtue, the tension between liberty and ...