ISBN: 0486445097 9780486445090

Category: Political Science / History & Theory

Page count: 185

Florentine statesman, writer, and political theorist, Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) considered <i>The Art of War</i> his most important work. Five centuries later, after serving as a guide to Frederick the Great, Napoleon, and countless other military leaders, it remains an authoritative treatise on the fundamentals of warfare.<br>Best known as the political theorist who wrote <i>The Prince,</i> Machiavelli used this book to advocate strategies for Italy's increased military prowess and political strength. Machiavelli was the first to propose a global context for the functional unity of war and politics, with the former serving as an instrument of the latter. Written in the form of dialogues, this 1520 work represents a humanistic treatment rather than a textbook approach. It clearly states and discusses the fundamentals of military organization and strategy: handling recruitment and weapons, motivating troops, demoralizing enemies, and achieving tactical and strategic advantages. Essential to the education of students of military history, strategy, and theory, <i>The Art of War</i> continues to inspire readers.