Niccolò Machiavelli e i suoi tempi, vol. II

The volume reconstructs the life, career, and political thought of Niccolò Machiavelli within the tumultuous political landscape of the Renaissance. It examines his major writings and public actions through newly available documents and archival evidence to clarify intentions and chronology. The narrative situates those developments amid wars, papal ambitions, and shifting alliances that shaped Italian statecraft. It also surveys contemporary cultural currents—painting, sculpture, literature, and the revival of classical models—and considers how artistic and intellectual life influenced political discourse. Close readings of texts and documents link specific events to the composition and aims of his work.