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.
horrors of war and unsanitary