Machiavelli's Florentine Histories

Created by: Nikita
Created on: 29-03-13 23:17


	Machiavelli's Florentine Histories
	Similarities HOW MACHIAVELLI'S WRITING CONFORMS TO MODERN DAY PERCEPTION OF HISTORY: Has an object of narration (Florence) Describes a particular period, from the origins of Florence until 1492 (the death of Lorenzo de'Medici) Presents a "problem or theme"(the cause of social divisions in Florence) As in the present, History is both the story of something's past, and the study of the past itself	Differences HOW MACHIAVELLI'S CONCEPT OF HISTORY DIFFERS TO MODERN PERCEPTIONS OF HISTORY Machiavelli uses the word "history" to refer to a study of something beyond the past(for him it's much more about how the past is being looked at, not just for its own sake) For Machiavelli, history IS historiography Machivelli's historical context included both facts about the past, and the style that was fashionable to write with at the time
	Overall comparison For the most part, Machiavelli's conception of history, and therefore his writing, is similar or at least recognisable in structure to historical narratives today. The main difference, however, is in its content. This may be ficitional. or exaggerated, and is all about subverting and reacting to an earlier classical style. It also alludes to political parallels and persuasive techniques from Machiavelli! In conclusion, although Machiavelli's style of history seems much more familiar to modern historians than say, Augustine's City of God, it does not quite have the modern level of objectivity one would expect to find in historical writing.

Machiavelli's Florentine Histories

Similarities

HOW MACHIAVELLI'S WRITING CONFORMS TO MODERN DAY PERCEPTION OF HISTORY:
Has an object of narration (Florence)
Describes a particular period, from the origins of Florence until 1492 (the death of Lorenzo de'Medici)
Presents a "problem or theme"(the cause of social divisions in Florence)
As in the present, History is both the story of something's past, and the study of the past itself

Differences

HOW MACHIAVELLI'S CONCEPT OF HISTORY DIFFERS TO MODERN PERCEPTIONS OF HISTORY
Machiavelli uses the word "history" to refer to a study of something beyond the past(for him it's much more about how the past is being looked at, not just for its own sake)
For Machiavelli, history IS historiography
Machivelli's historical context included both facts about the past, and the style that was fashionable to write with at the time

Overall comparison

For the most part, Machiavelli's conception of history, and therefore his writing, is similar or at least recognisable in structure to historical narratives today. The main difference, however, is in its content. This may be ficitional. or exaggerated, and is all about subverting and reacting to an earlier classical style. It also alludes to political parallels and persuasive techniques from Machiavelli! In conclusion, although Machiavelli's style of history seems much more familiar to modern historians than say, Augustine's City of God, it does not quite have the modern level of objectivity one would expect to find in historical writing.

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Machiavelli's Florentine Histories