Discourses on Livy

Discourses on Livy, in Italian: Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio, is a book of political history and philosophy written by Niccolò Machiavelli, at the beginning of the 16th century, although they were published posthumously with papal privilege in 1531.

The book tells the story of the expansion of Rome until the end of the Third Samnite War in 293 BC. Machiavelli's intention was to use history as a means to learn useful lessons that can be applied to the present, as well as so that future generations do not forget the events of the past.

The Roman people is described as superior to other contemporary peoples, although it details that in the history of humanity everything goes in cycles and political greatness can go as soon as it comes.

Ninian Hill Thomson's translation has been used for this digital edition of the book Discourses on Livy by Niccolò Machiavelli.