Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, Book 1


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In "Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius", posthumous work by the author of The Prince, Machiavelli discusses the useful lessons that could be learnt from the past for his present. As the title mentions, the subject of the work is the first ten books of Livy's Ab urbe condita, which cover the expansion of Rome from the legendary monarchy of Romulus to the end of the Third Samnite War (293 BCE). The whole work contains three books, with 142 numbered chapters - perhaps not a coincidence, since Livy's history also contained 142 books. In the first book, the author discusses things that happened inside of Rome as the result of public counsel. - Summary by Leni (6 hr 6 min)

Chapters

Preface 8:32 Read by Pamela Nagami
CHAPTER I.Of the Beginnings of Cities in general, and in particular of that of … 11:10 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER II. Of the various kinds of Government; and to which of them the Roman … 17:08 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER III. Of the Accidents which led in Rome to the creation of Tribunes of … 3:44 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER IV. That the Dissensions between the Senate and Commons of Rome, made R… 5:52 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER V. Whether the Guardianship of public Freedom is safer in the hands of … 7:45 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER VI. Whether it was possible in Rome to contrive such a Government as wo… 14:45 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER VII. That to preserve Liberty in a State there must exist the Right to … 9:13 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER VIII. That Calumny is as hurtful in a Commonwealth as the power to accu… 8:26 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER IX. That to give new Institutions to a Commonwealth, or to reconstruct … 8:02 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER X. That in proportion as the Founder of a Kingdom or Commonwealth merit… 10:21 Read by Dave Gillespie
CHAPTER XI. Of the Religion of the Romans. 7:10 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XII. That it is of much moment to make account of Religion; and that It… 6:33 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XIII. Of the use the Romans made of Religion in giving Institutions to … 5:11 Read by Brad Murphy
CHAPTER XIV. That the Romans interpreted the Auspices to meet the occasion; and… 4:15 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XV. How the Samnites, as a last resource in their broken Fortunes, had … 4:04 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XVI. That a People accustomed to live under a Prince, if by any acciden… 9:03 Read by Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XVII. That a corrupt People obtaining Freedom can hardly preserve it. 6:01 Read by Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XVIII. How a Free Government existing in a corrupt City may be preserve… 9:04 Read by Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XIX. After a strong Prince a weak Prince may maintain himself: but afte… 4:53 Read by Eva Staes
CHAPTER XX. That the consecutive Reigns of two valiant Princes produce great re… 1:58 Read by Donavan Olsen
CHAPTER XXI. That it is a great reproach to a Prince or to a Commonwealth to be… 3:36 Read by Donavan Olsen
CHAPTER XXII. What is to be noted in the combat of the three Roman Horatii and … 2:34 Read by Donavan Olsen
CHAPTER XXIII. That we should never hazard our whole Fortunes where we put not … 5:26 Read by Donavan Olsen
CHAPTER XXIV. That well-ordered States always provide Rewards and Punishments f… 4:42 Read by Lucretia B.
CHAPTER XXV. That he who would reform the Institutions of a free State, must re… 3:38 Read by Lucretia B.
CHAPTER XXVI. A new Prince in a City or Province of which he has taken Possessi… 2:35 Read by Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XXVII. That Men seldom know how to be wholly good or wholly bad. 3:08 Read by Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XXVIII. Whence it came that the Romans were less ungrateful to their Ci… 3:34 Read by Ciufi Galeazzi
CHAPTER XXIX. Whether a People or a Prince is the more ungrateful. 9:23 Read by jenno
CHAPTER XXX. How Princes and Commonwealths may avoid the vice of Ingratitude; a… 5:31 Read by jenno
CHAPTER XXXI. That the Roman Captains were never punished with extreme severity… 4:11 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XXXII. That a Prince or Commonwealth should not delay conferring Benefi… 2:53 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XXXIII. When a Mischief has grown up in, or against a State, it is safe… 6:28 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XXXIV. That the authority of the Dictator did good and not harm to the … 8:19 Read by jenno
CHAPTER XXXV. Why the Creation of the Decemvirate in Rome, although brought abo… 5:09 Read by jenno
CHAPTER XXXVI. That Citizens who have held the higher Offices of a Commonwealth… 3:20 Read by jenno
CHAPTER XXXVII. Of the Mischief bred in Rome by the Agrarian Law: and how it is… 10:01 Read by jenno
CHAPTER XXXVIII. That weak Republics are irresolute and undecided; and that the… 6:48 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XXXIX. That often the same Accidents are seen to befall different Natio… 4:21 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XL. Of the creation of the Decemvirate in Rome, and what therein is to … 12:56 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XLI. That it is unwise to pass at a bound from leniency to severity, or… 2:12 Read by Ann Boulais
CHAPTER XLII. How easily Men become corrupted. 1:34 Read by Eva Staes
CHAPTER XLIII. That Men fighting in their own Cause make good and resolute Sold… 2:21 Read by Ann Boulais
CHAPTER XLIV. That the Multitude is helpless without a Head: and that we should… 2:55 Read by Ann Boulais
CHAPTER XLV. That it is of evil example, especially in the Maker of a Law, not … 4:28 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XLVI. That Men climb from one step of Ambition to another, seeking at f… 4:02 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XLVII. That though Men deceive themselves in Generalities, in Particula… 7:54 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XLVIII. He who would not have an Office bestowed on some worthless or w… 1:33 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER XLIX. That if Cities which, like Rome, had their beginning in Freedom, … 5:50 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER L. That neither any Council nor any Magistrate should have power to bri… 3:05 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER LI. What a Prince or Republic does of Necessity, should seem to be done… 2:04 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER LII. That to check the arrogance of a Citizen who is growing too powerf… 5:28 Read by Hypatia
CHAPTER LIII. That the People, deceived by a false show of Advantage, often des… 8:49 Read by Hypatia
CHAPTER LIV. Of the boundless Authority which a great Man may use to restrain a… 3:00 Read by Hypatia
CHAPTER LV. That Government is easily carried on in a City wherein the body of … 10:24 Read by merendo07
CHAPTER LVI. That when great Calamities are about to befall a City or Country, … 2:58 Read by Hypatia
CHAPTER LVII. That the People are strong collectively, but individually weak. 3:29 Read by Eva Staes
CHAPTER LVIII. That a People is wiser and more constant than a Prince 12:49 Read by Eva Staes
CHAPTER LIX. To what Leagues or Alliances we may most trust; whether those we m… 5:39 Read by Hypatia
CHAPTER LX. That the Consulship and all the other Magistracies in Rome were giv… 3:43 Read by Hypatia