HIST4234 · History
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
Journalists and political scientists love the adjective Machiavellian, but who was Machiavellireally? And was he actually Machiavellian? This course puts this troublesome figure under the historical microscope, ultimately using his case to understand the social, political, and cultural forces that formed him. We will readThe Prince(of course) but also theDiscourses on Livy, andThe Mandrake Root, and a veritable mountain of Machiavellis (often creepy) personal correspondence. To sharpen our image of his world, we will also dig into frantic diplomatic dispatches and inquisitorial trials that illuminate major social conflicts, including religious and gender politics.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.9 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.7 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.7 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.8 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~5
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
Ratings below reflect only recovered evaluations connected to this course.
Across time
Section-level results available in the recovered archive.
Spring 2024
1 sectionSpring 2022
1 section