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The Prince Study Guide

by Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince study guide contains a biography of Niccolo Machiavelli, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

The Prince begins with an address to Lorenzo de Medici, in which Machiavelli explains that he is seeking favor with the prince by offering him some of his knowledge. He then proceeds to classify the various kinds of states: republics, hereditary princedoms, brand-new princedoms, and mixed principalities. New states are his primary focus, for those are the hardest to deal with. A conquered state whose original prince was its sole ruler is difficult to conquer, but easy to maintain; a conquered state in which the prince shared power with the barons is easy to conquer, but difficult to maintain.

When possible, a prince should strive to rise to power on his own merits and with his own arms. Relying on friends, good luck, or other people’s arms…

Read the full The Prince Summary

• The Prince Summary
• About The Prince
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Section 1: Chapters I-III
• Summary and Analysis of Section 2: Chapters IV-VII
• Summary and Analysis of Section 3: Chapters VIII-IX
• Summary and Analysis of Section 4: Chapters X-XI
• Summary and Analysis of Section 5: Chapters XII-XIV
• Summary and Analysis of Section 6: Chapters XV-XIX
• Summary and Analysis of Section 7: Chapters XX-XXVI
• Florence in Machiavelli's Day
• Related Links on The Prince
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• The Prince: Major Themes
• The Prince: Essays
• The Prince: E-Text
• The Prince: Questions
• The Prince: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Niccolo Machiavelli: Biography