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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

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 suggests that there is a proper use of cruelty.
(c) He believes that cruelty must continue to be successful.
(d) He says any use of cruelty cannot be justified.

2. Why did Machiavelli say that Italy has been overrun by Charles, plundered by Louis, ravished by Ferdinand, and dishonored by the Swiss?
(a) Because it has had only a mercenary military.
(b) Because the Italians have forgotten the military methods of the Roman Empire.
(c) Because too many people are in charge of the military.
(d) Because it has no central government.

3. What does Machiavelli suggest may make a hereditary ruler unpopular with his people?
(a) Outrageous vices.
(b) Using his army to gain more territory.
(c) Never changing the way they are accustomed to being ruled.
(d) Staying away from the princedom for long periods of time.

4. 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) A son of one of the murdered men put poison in his wine.
(d) He was accidentally killed by a poorly aimed arrow.

5. What does Machiavelli say a new prince must do quickly after gaining a new dominion?
(a) Build a new palace.
(b) Read his book.
(c) Hand out money.
(d) Learn quickly.

6. One Princedom, according to Machiavelli, is ruled by a sole prince; the other is by a prince and his barons. What does Machiavelli see as a weakness of the latter?
(a) The barons hold their titles by heredity and not by the favor of the prince, so there is less loyalty.
(b) If the prince dies the barons all lose their hereditary titles.
(c) The prince does always knows what the barons are doing in their territories.
(d) The prince becomes lazy and leaves everything up to the barons.

7. What does Machiavelli suggest makes for peace in a dominion?
(a) A Prince who knows how to hide his bad habits.
(b) A Prince who knows how to keep the people in line by force.
(c) Each day being the same as the day before.
(d) A brilliant and vocal Prince.

8. What does Machiavelli insist about a Prince who lost his dominion by force?
(a) He would lose all popularity with the people.
(b) He would have to run for his life and never return.
(c) The people would forget all about him.
(d) It would be easy to get it back.

9. Citing Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus, what distinction does Machiavelli make about Moses?
(a) There is no histroy of Moses outside of the Jewish holy writings.
(b) Moses never actually established himself as a leader.
(c) There was something in Moses, some ability that made him worthy to speak with God.
(d) Instead of ruling the Egyptians after defeating them, he left.

10. What were the results of Sparta setting up oligarchies in Athens and Thebes after they conquered them?
(a) They lost the new territories.
(b) They changed their own forms of government.
(c) They learned how to retain a possession.
(d) They held them for a thousand years.

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

12. What was Machiavelli's method for learning political government?
(a) He studied the outstanding rulers of the past.
(b) He relied on his own intuitions.
(c) He formed a college to study the various ideas.
(d) He tried all methods of government himself.

13. How does Machiavelli think New Dominions were formed?
(a) Through Ability or Accident.
(b) Through War and Pestilence.
(c) Through Fortune or Ability.
(d) Through democratic elections.

14. What does Machiavelli say was the reason for successes by Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus?
(a) Like Moses, they could talk with God.
(b) It had nothing to do with fortune, but was because of their own talents.
(c) They did not understand the thinking of the people.
(d) They were standing in the right place at the right time.

15. If a city is well fortified against attack, what will cause the enemy to retreat?
(a) They will retreat because they cannot afford a long seige.
(b) They will retreat because the fortified city makes them believe there are other armies in the field.
(c) They will retreat because they do not have enough supplies to feed themselves.
(d) They will retreat because they are cold outside the walls of the city.

Short Answer Questions

1. What example does Machiavelli give of a dominion that is a limb of a larger one?

2. What combination of circumstances does Machiavelli identify in men like Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus?

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

4. What does Machiavelli see as the problem with barons?

5. What problem faces a prince appointed by the nobles?

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