Machiavelli recreates the historical situation of the fast developing and ever shifting balance of power struggle in Renaissance Italy. There are five major powers: The Republics of Florence and Venice, the Duchy of Milan, the Kingdom of Naples and the Papacy (which was a secular power in this era) along with 3 major foreign powers: Valois France, Hapsburg Austria and the Ottoman Turks. All of these states singly or in combination compete for control of the peninsula.

The first Avalon Hill edition was published in 1980, three years after the game was initially released by Battleline. So, this is actually already the second edition of this game. The game includes a mounted mapboard, over 600 counters, rules and various playing aids.

This copy is in Fair condition. The counters are punched. The rulebook pages have been separated, and placed into individual plastic folders. There is coloring and marking of components. There is shelf wear, including splitting of the box. As always, the photos are of the game you will receive.