The Art of war is a treatise written by Niccolo Machiavelli between 1519 and 1520 under the original title "Dell'arte de la Guerra." The text is a series of Socratic Dialogues divided in 8 parts, the Preface (proemio) and the 7 books of the dialogues. This treatise is one of only a few works of Machiavelli that was published during his lifetime and the only historical and political one. It is considered by many to be his most important work.Machiavelli wrote "Dell'arte de la Guerra" as an enchiridion of historical, political and scholarly advice for the Princes regarding their perspective on war and how it can be used as a political tool. The purpose of this book is "To honor and reward virtù, not to have contempt for poverty, to esteem the modes and orders of military discipline, to constrain citizens to love one another, to live without factions, to esteem less the private than the public good." -Niccolò Machiavelli