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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 14.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Does Machiavelli suggest that rising to power through cruelty is always wrong?
(a) He states that political assassination is not cruelty.
(b) He says any use of cruelty cannot be justified.
(c) He believes that cruelty must continue to be successful.
(d) He suggests that there is a proper use of cruelty.

2. How does Machiavelli say a private citizen might make himself a prince?
(a) By avoiding war and promoting peace.
(b) By becoming a puppet of an enemy military.
(c) By hiring his own mercenaries.
(d) By becoming proficient in war and rising in rank.

3. What does Machiavelli suggest is the surest way to govern a conquered territory?
(a) Start paying higher salaries to bureaucrats.
(b) Declare many holidays.
(c) Destroy its civil and political systems first.
(d) Keep the old system in place.

4. How does Machiavelli say Agathocles became Prince of Syracuse?
(a) Getting the poor people to support him against the aristocracy.
(b) Beheading anyone who opposed him.
(c) Defeating the Carthiginians.
(d) Assembling the Senate to confer and then having them all killed.

5. What is the irony of the death of Oliverotto of Fermo who came to power by assembling all the leaders for a dinner and then killing them all?
(a) Cesare Borgia did the same thing to him.
(b) He died of natural causes before he could become Prince of Fermo.
(c) He was accidentally killed by a poorly aimed arrow.
(d) A son of one of the murdered men put poison in his wine.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who was responsible for weakening the power of Colonna and Orsini, the barons of Rome?

2. Why is setting up a system of government using conquered citizens effective?

3. What powerful force does Machiavelli say can efface innovations in government?

4. What does Machiavelli say is the only art expected of a prince?

5. What does Machiavelli say will be an advantage to a prince who lost his dominion by force of arms?

(see the answer key)

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