Discourses on Livy

Written by Niccolò Machiavelli in the early 16th century, 'Discourses on Livy' is a three-book commentary on the first ten books of Titus Livy's 'Ab Urbe Condita'.

The work examines the founding, maintenance, and protection of the Roman Republic, drawing lessons for modern republics.

Machiavelli critiques the failure of his contemporaries to learn from ancient political history and argues for the importance of imitating the political virtues of the ancients.

The book discusses various themes, including the role of public and private counsel, the institution of dictatorship, and the impact of religion on statecraft.

It is a significant work in political philosophy, emphasizing the practical application of historical examples to contemporary political issues.