Characteristics of the Renaissance:

• Rebirth of Greco-Roman civilization (classical culture)
• Features: individual ability & secularism (still religious)
• Dominated by wealthy elite of urban societies in Northern Italy
• Relatively swift recovery from the Black Death

Warfare & Diplomacy:

• Balance of Power: No single state dominates the others
  Italian battleground: France vs. Spain (Valois/Habsburg power struggle)
• Middle Ages ambassadors: servants of Christendom (temporary)
• Italian diplomatic agents sent out to gather useful information

Machiavelli: The Prince (1513)

• Servant of Florentine government until exile
  (Political influences: Ancient Rome and Italian political problems)
• Expansion of political power to ensure stability
  Rejected Christian/moral principles of the common good
• Realistic self-preservation (understanding human nature)
  The prince acts on behalf of the state