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

by Niccolò Machiavelli

"History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy" by Niccolò Machiavelli is a historical account first published posthumously in 1532. Commissioned by the Medici family, this work chronicles Florence's turbulent past through Machiavelli's distinctive political lens. He examines the city's destructive factionalism and moral decay, contrasting it with ancient Rome's productive conflicts. The narrative features vivid portraits of the Medici family, dramatic speeches including one from the 1378 Ciompi Revolt, and detailed accounts of conspiracies and power struggles that shaped Renaissance Florence.