History Archives

Machiavelli: Mercenaries & Loaners Are Too Costly

What’s Machiavelli’s advice regarding military forces? Why does he warn against using hired and borrowed soldiers? In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli distinguishes three types of armies: hired forces (mercenaries), borrowed forces, and personal forces. According to Machiavelli, mercenaries should be avoided, borrowed forces are risky, and personal armies are the way to go. Continue reading for Machiavelli’s reasons on why hired and borrowed forces aren’t worth it.

The Prince: Niccolò Machiavelli’s Instruction Manual

What does The Prince instruct national leaders to do? Is it an accurate depiction of Renaissance political life? In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli instructs the reader on how princes may seize, maintain, and defend their power, encouraging them to embrace cruelty and deception as necessary tools in their arsenal. He does this through simple maxims and historical examples. Here’s our overview of the lessons that Machiavelli teaches in The Prince.

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story—Book Overview

What is Nikole Hannah-Jones’s The 1619 Project about? What role did slavery play in American history? The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story is an anthology of essays edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones and co-created with the New York Times that seeks to reframe American history with the institution of slavery at its core. The essays also explore how the institution of slavery has impacted our economy, laws, society, and the livelihoods of Black Americans. Below is a brief overview of The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story.

It Is Better to Be Feared Than Loved: Machiavelli Explains

Is it truly better to be feared than loved? Why does Machiavelli think so? This assertion from The Prince has become an adage over the centuries. You’ve probably heard it, but you might not know what Machiavelli means and what his argument is. Continue reading to understand why Machiavelli believes that it is better to be feared than loved.

Machiavelli: Borgia Should Have Been More Prepared

Might Cesare Borgia have conquered all of Italy? Where did he go wrong? During the Italian Renaissance, Cesare Borgia found huge success and was poised for more. But, it all came crashing down around him. According to Machiavelli, Borgia might have stayed in power if he had been more prepared for life’s inevitabilities. Keep reading to learn how fortuna can destroy a prince.

Should the American Government Pay Slavery Reparations?

How does the legacy of slavery still reverberate amongst Black Americans? Should the American government provide reparations to descendants of American slaves? Most of the injustices Black Americans face are either caused or perpetuated by economic inequality. To eliminate inequality and the injustices that follow, the government should provide Black Americans with financial aid and enhance funding for low-income and majority-Black communities, according to the author of The 1619 Project. In this article, we will discuss how the modern financial injustices Black Americans face are the result of slavery and Jim Crow, and what slavery reparations should entail.

The Rise of Centralized Government in Eurasia

What did Eurasia’s government system look like? What factors contributed to the structure of their government? Eurasia’s society developed faster than most at the time thanks to their understanding of food production and their population density. These factors, along with a few more, led Eurasia to create a centralized government. Here’s why Eurasia developed a centralized government and how it was advantageous.

The History of Eurasia: How Knowledge Spread

What factors contributed to the rise and spread of knowledge in Eurasia? What advantages did knowledge provide in Eurasian society? According to Jared Diamond, the author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, three factors lead to the spread of knowledge in the history of Eurasia. Those factors were: a head start in food production, a large area with a dense population, and the ease of diffusion. Continue reading to learn the history of how Eurasia thrived.

The History of Infectious Diseases in Eurasia

Can an epidemic be a good thing? What factors lead to the development and spread of infectious diseases in Eurasia? How did Eurasians become dangerous to the rest of the world? In his book Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond discusses how epidemic diseases were a blessing in disguise for Eurasian societies. Over time, Eurasians became immune to certain deadly diseases and were eventually able to wipe out entire populations without using physical weapons. Keep reading for the history of infectious diseases in Eurasia, and how it may have saved its population.

The Diffusion of Crops in Eurasia: Rise & Spread

What made Eurasia a prime location for domesticable plants? How did Eurasia’s geographic location give it an advantage? Jared Diamond, a historian, geographer, and ornithologist, contends that Eurasia benefited from having geographical features that supported the diffusion of crops and the rise and spread of food production. He said that the two features that set Eurasia apart were its axis orientation and the lack of topographic and ecological factors. Continue reading to learn about the history of the diffusion of crops in Eurasia.