Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian author and statesman, one of the outstanding figures of the Renaissance and by far the most controversial political thinker. However, his political genius was overshadowed by the reputation that was unfairly given to him because of a misunderstanding of his views on politics. Machiavelli dedicated his complete life to uniting Italy and making Florence it's dominate force; as a child, he observed key political figures from afar. Then he served …showed first 75 words of 915 total…

…showed last 75 words of 915 total…returned hoping to secure his former office of secretary to the "Ten of Liberty and Peace." Unfortunately he was taken ill soon after he reached Florence. This is when he died on the twenty-second of June 1527. Machiavelli had dedicated a lifetime to Italy and much more to Florence; however, Machiavelli's life long dream of unifying Italy was not accomplished during his lifetime. Three hundred and fifty years passed before Italy became a unified country in 1870.