In Machiavelli's eyes, the main goal of politics was maintaining, increasing and preserving power. Anything that came after that was secondary or had nothing to do with the fundamental aspects of politics, unless those aspects aided one in achieving and preserving power. Ethics being one such example, another of which is taken directly from the source in the Western Civilizations textbook. On the issue of whether it is better to be loved than feared, or vice versa, Machiavelli states that: "My view is that it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved." Using this insight, Machiavelli in The Prince describes how one would be best to go about achieving and maintaining power. The examples used in this text are mainly of failed instances. Machiavelli believed that the only important skill that counted in achieving and maintaining power was calculation, and if a ruler made one miscalculation (i.e. not knowing what to say or do in a mere one instance) the power they worked so tirelessly for would be swept swiftly away.
As mentioned above, the historical setting of the era of Machiavelli was one characterized by its political instability. After two botched attempts at a Republic, the Medici's were brought back into power, but not for long. Soon after, yet another attempt at a Republic overthrew the current government. Before the initial attempts at a Republic, Italy was divided into four main, highly competitive city states. The wary city states had hope of tranquility with the Peace of Lodi in 1954, and thus the Balance of Power began. The Balance was upset, however, in 1494 by Milan. The Dukes of Milan felt threatened by the other city states (and vice versa) so they invited Charles VIII to Italy. Charles marched southward, taking over. By 1498 Florence was under new rule as a Republic, and Machiavelli had emerged as a Florentine servant; an important and dignified diplomat.
