1494+Invasion+of+the+Italian+States

Abby

Invasion of the Italian States || -growth of powerful monarchy states led to trouble for the Italians -long struggle for power between Valois and Hapsburg dynasties -Italy was only a pawn for the two powers-->breakdown of Italian balance of power encouraged invasions || -Ludovio Sforza, duke of Milan foolishly invited French to intervene in Italian politics -French king Charles VIII, with an army of 30,000 men advanced through Italy and occupied the kingdom of Naples -Other Italian states turned to the Spanish for help, and Ferdinand of Aragon -for 15 years French and Spanish competed to dominate Italy -then switched to Francis I of France and Charles I of Spain -Sack of Rome in 1527 by the armies of the Spanish king, Charles I, brought an end to the Spaniards dominating Italy || first major moment where dynasties fight over land and dynastic claims-fighting for hegemony and the need/want to expand (power politics) || Machiavelli's ideas on politics stemmed from 2 major sources, his preoccupation with Italy's political problems and his knowledge of ancient Rome. Political activity could not be restricted by moral considerations- must act on behalf of the state.
 * **Event & Dates** || **Major Causes** || **Key Events** || **Key Outcomes for Analysis** || **Interesting POV's to consider** ||
 * 1494

-abandon morality as the basis for the analysis of political activity -considered the founder of modern, secular power politics ||