Ep 145: Christopher Lynch on Machiavelli at War

Christopher Lynch, a Political Science Professor at Missouri State University and contributor to Machiavelli on War, delves into the turbulent world of Renaissance warfare and Niccolò Machiavelli. He discusses the chaos sparked by the French invasion of 1494, which led to the rise of republicanism in Florence. Lynch critiques Machiavelli’s views on mercenaries versus a native military and examines his strategic insights during the campaign for Pisa. The conversation also touches on Machiavelli's exile and the complex morality in his works, revealing whether he was a reformer or a proponent of cunning politics.