HIST 2220 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Collective Security, Military Science, Smoothbore
Document Summary
Military actions contributed to the understanding of science. Merchants and urban professionals ruled the republics of northern italy: competitions between city states, competitions for domination of commerce. Constant warfare wasted resources, people killed, more vulnerable to outside attacks. Northern italy conquered most of italy but got syphilis in napes and retreated. Niccolo machiavelli 1469-1527: early forerunner of military and political science, developed theories about politics, society, warfare, reformed florentine army, prepared city for invasion. 1494 uprising against medici family; blamed them for french invasion: 1498 new regime came in (machiavelli) French invaded italy 1494 to press dynastic claims to naples. When french retreated they brought back italian culture with them: northern renaissance movement. Humanism encouraged examination of ancient texts and question assumptions and challenged established authorities: interesting in discovering truth, attacked established authorities, started evolution of science 1500s. Military science involves: study of previous battles, ballistics, weaponry and tactics, logistical support, military strategy.
