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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 Popular Demand for a Share in Government, The Management of the Populace, The Advantages of Popular Government.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are the two means that Machiavelli identifies as how laws are developed in cities at the beginning of Section 2, Book One.
(a) Through dominion of the wealthy or through bartering agreements.
(b) By war and by peace.
(c) At one time by one man and by chance at several times according to events.
(d) Through Princes or through Republics.

2. What is an obvious counterpoint to Machiavelli's assertion to the benefits of the power of the Caesars to the Roman Empire?
(a) Without the Caesars, provinces of the Empire would have moved to avoid hazards.
(b) If the Nobles of Rome had not sought to possess distant provinces, there would have been no need for Caesars.
(c) The cost of Empire caused hazards to gather domestically as well as throughout the Empire.
(d) Without the empire is it possible that the hazards the empire faced would not have materialized.

3. What did Machiavelli cite as the method that Rome used to maintain its freedom?
(a) It continually sent soldiers to expand its empire.
(b) It continued to make new laws and new institutions to confront corruption.
(c) It made frequent use of elections to allow the citizens to influence government.
(d) It made public displays of punishments for lawbreakers.

4. Why does Machiavelli claim that the rule of the Caesars was preferable to the regime of the Decemvirs?
(a) Because Machiavelli believed that the Decemvirs were too lax on punishments for violators of the law.
(b) Because the Caesars ended Rome's state of continual war.
(c) Because, according to Machiavelli, the Decemvirs did not pursue expansion of the Empire.
(d) Because under the Caesar, there remained the Tribunes, Consuls, and the Senate, to whom the Caesar remained responsible.

5. How does Machiavelli expect a city can keep its freedom after a weak Prince follows an excellent Prince?
(a) Only if the citizens ignore the weak Prince and organize themselves to retain virtue.
(b) Only if the city does not fall into war with a more virtuous city.
(c) Only if administrators conspire to act with the virtue of the excellent Prince.
(d) Only if a Prince with the virtue of the excellent Prince follows the weak Prince.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do fertile areas offer to those who settle there according to Machiavelli?

2. What are two reasons Machiavelli gives for foreign forces building a city?

3. What can be inferred of Machiavelli's idea of virtue from reading the review of the first three kings of Rome as he begins his discourse of weak Princes and excellent Princes?

4. What did Machiavelli identify as the cause of conspiracy against a hereditary Princes?

5. What did Machiavelli suggest is the advantage of settling in areas that were "sterile" (barren)?

(see the answer key)

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