Introduction

The relationship between war and state formation is a timely subject for inquiry. In 1493 the city of Constantinople was besieged by Muslim forces led by Mehmet II. When Charles VIII led French forces into Italy in 1494 he brought with him more powerful lightweight artillery that could be drawn by horses and oxen. Machiavelli wrote about it and so did Guicardini. The Weekly Listen features our essays, read by Layton Pugh.