History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy From the Earliest Times to the Death of Lorenzo the Magnificent

"History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy" by Niccolò Machiavelli is a journey through centuries of Italian conflicts and leadership changes, starting with the fall of the Roman Empire and ending with the death of Lorenzo de' Medici. The book looks at how invasions by groups like the Visigoths and Vandals caused the Roman Empire to get weaker, especially after the emperors moved away. It shows how leaders took advantage of problems in the empire to get power, which led to changing political situations in Italy. This helps understand the rise of different powers and how these changes affected Florence and Italy during Machiavelli's time, giving reasons why the political playfield was set.