Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) has been called "the founder of modern political science." But others have less complimentary names for him.

    After all, what good can be said about a man who felt it was better to be feared than loved? This dictum alone would justify the sobriquet "Machiavellian" that is derived from his name.

    If we take his writings at face value, Machiavelli was no "prince" himself. (When we admire someone, we might say, "He's a prince!") Instead, his work advocates dishonesty, treachery, and even murder as valid political tactics.

    There is another school of thought, though. Some say that in fact the book was a sort of satire, and that reading it actually inspired the creation of humane governments to insure that such tactics were never (or seldom) put into practice.

    Born in Florence, though never a full citizen due to the complicated Florentine laws, Machiavelli witnessed a time of great political upheaval and its accompanying intrigue. In those times, popes were also political leaders, and commonly waged war against the leaders of city-states who refused to comply with their wishes. Other countries, too, such as France, Spain, and Switzerland, had political interests in the Italian peninsula. There were spies, poisonings, switching sides, even a mad monk who gained some influence over the people's minds--all the features of a juicy political thriller.

    After a solid basic education, Machiavelli became an official in the chancery, an office responsible for government correspondence. He began carrying out diplomatic missions, especially between Florence and the Pope in Rome, as well as to the courts of France and Spain.

    In charge of the military, he eschewed the use of professional soldiers, figuring that citizens made more trustworthy soldiers. However, his armies were ultimately defeated, and when power changed hands in Florence in 1512, he was left without a job (after some torture by the incoming government).

    He then retried to the countryside and became a writer--a more peaceful and enduring profession. His magnum opus, "The Prince," was published in 1513.

    Vocabulary: Which word above means:

    1. saying, proverb

    2. nickname

    3. compassionate, benevolent

    4. particular way of thinking

    5. scheming, secret planning

    6. small political entities the size of a city, independent from surrounding areas

    7. accept without closer examination

    8. commotion, instability

    ANSWERS: 1. dictum 2. sobriquet 3. humane 4. school of thought 5. intrigue 6. city-states 7. Take at face value 8. upheaval