How was Machiavelli influenced by the classics and how did these translate into his work?His "work" being "The Prince."

While few details are known about Niccolo Machiavelli's
early life and education, we can make some assumptions. As a son in an aristocratic
family in Florence in the late 1400's, it is likely that he was familiar with the Greek
and Roman classic authors and philosophies. He also was familiar with the power of the
Roman Catholic Church and the influence of the Pope in matters secular as well as
theological.

The Prince gave voice to
Machiavelli's admiration of the highly organized and powerful military and social
structures of the ancient Roman Republic. He felt that this type of control had been
lost by the Italian city-states, the republics of his day. Machiavelli also argued that
the corruption in the Roman Catholic Church was resulting in the loss of religious
commitment among the populace. Machiavelli wrote The Prince to
explain his reasons for advocating the development of a very strong central government
that could reclaim the power and prestige of Italian cities for
themselves.

"I
believe that the fortune which the Romans had would be enjoyed by all princes who
proceeded as the Romans did and who were of the same virtue as
they."