Niccolo Machiavelli, History of Florence Vol 1 Part 2 1526
Channel: Age of Enlightenment
Date: 2015-12-19

This is part 2 of the first volume of Niccolo Machiavelli's History of Florence.  This volume ends with Book IV: when Lorenzo de' Medici died in 1492. Volume 2 goes from 1492-the 1520's.

Here's a short Hegelian quote:

It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a state of order again; for the nature of mundane affairs not allowing them to continue in an even course, when they have arrived at their greatest perfection, they soon begin to decline. In the same manner, having been reduced by disorder, and sunk to their utmost state of depression, unable to descend lower, they, of necessity, reascend; and thus from good they gradually decline to evil, and from evil again return to good. The reason is, that valor produces peace; peace, repose; repose, disorder; disorder, ruin; so from disorder order springs; from order virtue, and from this, glory and good fortune. Hence, wise men have observed, that the age of literary excellence is subsequent to that of distinction in arms; and that in cities and provinces, great warriors are produced before philosophers. Arms having secured victory, and victory peace, the buoyant vigor of the martial mind cannot be enfeebled by a more excusable indulgence than that of letters; nor can indolence, with any greater or more dangerous deceit, enter a well regulated community. 

The intro from librivox.org
History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy is an historical account by Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527). Toward the end of 1520, the Cardinal Giulio of Medici, later Pope Clement VII, offered Machiavelli the appointment to write a history of Florence. Although Machiavelli was reluctant to accept, accepting was at that time his only possible way to regain the good graces of the Medici. Doing the history also provided a way for Machiavelli’s views to become the “official” history of Florentine and Italian affairs. Once completed, the work was presented officially to Giulio, now Pope, in May of 1526. The translator is unknown, but the copyright has been cleared by Wikipedia. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Karen Merline.)

Here's a link to the text and audio
https://librivox.org/hist-of-florence-vol-2-by-machiavelli/