1- His tenure as a diplomat in Florence. He held the position of chancellor for the Florentine government and was dispatched to France, where he encountered Borgia, a ruthless and corrupt politician. Machiavelli recognized that Borgia possessed the essential qualities for any political leader.
2- The disputes stemming from the Italian Wars. The aspirations for Italian unity were jeopardized by the ambitions of both Italian states and foreign powers. Machiavelli yearned deeply for a unified Italy.
3- The actions taken by the ruling Medici family. During this period, Machiavelli found himself imprisoned and tortured after being accused of orchestrating a conspiracy against the Medici.
The servants are more invested in the feud than their masters.
Zoomed Into and Through The University
The figure of speech used here and the meaning of the clause could state:
1. Hyperbole. This is a figure of speech employing deliberate exaggeration or overstatement for effect. For instance: it’s been a millennia — where were you these past 5 minutes?
2. It conveys that the person rushed into the university, likely because they were late for a class or appointment.