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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How long did Sparta peacefully exist without changing its laws, according to Machiavelli?
(a) 350 years.
(b) Through the reign of Lycurgus.
(c) 800 years.
(d) Until its domination by Rome.

2. What does Machiavelli establish as the relationship between gold and good soldiers?
(a) Gold attracts good soldiers.
(b) The promise of gold will make soldiers weaker.
(c) Gold is not sufficient to find good soldiers, but good soldiers are indeed sufficient to find gold.
(d) Gold will cause good soldiers to go bad.

3. What are three reasons that Machiavelli gives for cities becoming unhappy?
(a) When taxes drain Plebes of their wages, when resources are not allocated equitably, and when Princes seek to expand their influence with wars.
(b) When leaders drain resources to fight wars, when laws become tools for Princes to become more wealthy, when there is taxation without representation.
(c) When cities face armed challenges from outside institutions, the courts do not act justly, and when leaders abuse their power.
(d) When cities are compelled to reorganize laws by themselves, when the laws diverge from their established institutions, and when the laws lead cities from the right path.

4. What does Machiavelli suggest as the intention to make war?
(a) To prove the power of the Prince to the Citizens.
(b) To acquire and maintain the acquisition, so as to enrich themselves and not to impoverish the [conquered] country the home country.
(c) To keep Citizens attached to the power of the Prince.
(d) To keep Citizens focused on refining their virtue.

5. What is Machiavelli's explanation for initiating his recommended approach with enemies against an empire?
(a) Because those who try to crush it, make its force greater, and make that evil which is suspected from it to be accelerated.
(b) Because taking out the head of a movement will lead to the death of the body.
(c) Because the public humiliation of the enemy will expose supporters to the Citizens who will then act to neutralize the conspiracy.
(d) Because putting the leaders of enemies in positions of public responsibility will require them to make decisions that will be rejected by conspiracies.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is another method that Machiavelli reports leaders use to offend their citizens?

2. What did Machiavelli establish as the cycle of governing forms?

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

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

5. What does Machiavelli predict will come to Republics that do not provide for dictatorships or powerful authorities in times of urgent perils?

Short Essay Questions

1. What acts by governing officials does Machiavelli consider "pernicious" or damaging to the authority of the government?

2. What does Machiavelli consider to be the worst example that can be committed in a Republic?

3. What are the reasons that Machiavelli gives for people who leave their home country for another out of necessity?

4. What does Machiavelli claim to be the practice of writers of history who, "...so obey the fortune of the winners...?"

5. Why does Machiavelli report that the Roman Senate decided to pay a public stipend to the soldiers in the army?

6. What two methods did Machiavelli identify that Roman Nobility drew honor from the Plebes?

7. Why should a Prince measure his forces and govern by his decisions based upon them before he enters a war?

8. What kind of Prince does Machiavelli consider to be Excellent?

9. Why does Machiavelli consider a Citizen rising to take authority through irregular means (popular uprising) harmful in a Republic?

10. From what did Niccolo Machiavelli make the present that he sent to Zanobi Buondelmonti and Cosimo Rucellai?

(see the answer keys)

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