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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Book One, The Development of Rome's Constitution, The Use and Abuse of Dictatorship, The Road to Ruin, Sundry Reflections Based on the Decemvirate.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Machiavelli, what caused the Roman Republic to form?
(a) Class warfare between the patricians and the plebes.
(b) Economic agreements between fertile cities.
(c) Trade agreements between cities with resources and cities with technologies.
(d) Political rivalries between powerful generals.

2. What did Machiavelli establish as the cycle of governing forms?
(a) Aristocracy to republic to oligarchy to monarchy to aristocracy.
(b) Monarchy (principality) to aristocracy to oligarchy to democracy to monarchy.
(c) Democracy to republic go aristocracy to oligarchy to anarchy to democracy.
(d) Anarchy to democracy to oligarchy to monarchy to anarchy.

3. Why does Machiavelli claim these forms of government developed?
(a) To provide defense for people who gathered together.
(b) So those with wealth could protect themselves from those who had none.
(c) So those with influence could hold it without violence.
(d) To prevent people with the ability to use force from destroying each other.

4. What, according to Machiavelli in Book , 1 Section 38, is the fate of irresolute Republics?
(a) They will eventually fade away and reemerge as a tyranny.
(b) They face invasion, destruction and anhilation.
(c) They cannot settle conflicts except with force because their weakness prevents them from resolving doubts over issues.
(d) They have no alternative but to join alliances with powerful Republics that will take control of them.

5. What does Machiavelli believe to the nature of men that causes them to either fight from ambition or from necessity?
(a) Men that choose to fight always fight for personal benefit.
(b) Men that choose to fight always fight for the glory of the City.
(c) They are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything.
(d) They fight so they can have the power to deliver liberty to themselves and the City.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Machiavelli suggest that Princes and other leaders deal with acts that offend their citizens?

2. From what did Machiavelli develop the information that he wrote into "The Discourses"?

3. To what does Machiavelli compare great kingdoms and republics from history?

4. What is a Prince as Machiavelli uses the term?

5. According to Machiavelli, what type of people seek what office to cause a city to become corrupt?

(see the answer key)

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