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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Machiavelli say about skilled mercenary captains?
(a) They are too expensive.
(b) They are hard to find.
(c) They will only take orders from the prince.
(d) They cannot be trusted.

2. What is the advantage of the prince selected by the people?
(a) The people will see the prince change them in many ways.
(b) He will have their support because all they want is not to be oppresed.
(c) The nobles will always see this as a good sign and cooperate with the prince.
(d) He will be unable to ignore the wishes of the nobles.

3. After gaining dominions by merit, how does Machiavelli say a prince can hold his new territories?
(a) With great difficulty.
(b) It is impossible.
(c) Rarely.
(d) Easily.

4. Before Pope Alexander VI, what prevented the Church from gaining even more power?
(a) The threat of invasion by France.
(b) The separation of Church and State.
(c) Wars fought between the Colonna, the Orsini and the Pope.
(d) The commercial power of the Venetians.

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

6. What does Machiavelli say will be an advantage to a prince who lost his dominion by force of arms?
(a) A mishap on the part of the new government.
(b) The sympathy of the surrounding dominions.
(c) The tendency of new governments to rely heavily on hereditary princes.
(d) The money he was able to stash away before being invaded.

7. Machiavelli gives the example of how Cesare Borgia used Minister Remiro d'Orco in his plan to rule Romagna. After d'Orco brought the territory under control, what does Machiavelli say Cesare Borgia did to get the loyalty of the people?
(a) He retired d'Orco and gave him a lifetime pension.
(b) He gave d'Orco the power to kill anyone who opposed him.
(c) He told the people that d'Orco was acting on his orders.
(d) He executed d'Orco to make the people love and trust him.

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

9. What reasons does Machiavelli put forward to get Prince Lorenzo to read his book?
(a) Experience and his personal need.
(b) Experience and the absence of flattery.
(c) Experience and his low-born status.
(d) Experience and his ability as a writer.

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

11. What is Machiavelli removing from the political thinking during a time when the Roman Catholic Church was still appointing Emperors?
(a) He is removing God from politics and the power equation.
(b) He is removing political involvement of the church.
(c) He is removing objections to the combination of church and state.
(d) He is removing constitutional authority.

12. What is Machiavelli offering the Prince Lorenzo de Medici?
(a) A large book of rules for new princes to use in governing the people.
(b) Personal introductions to great men Machiavelli knows.
(c) Means of mastering in a short time all Machiavelli has learned about governing.
(d) The chance to become king of all Italy.

13. What does Machiavelli see as the problem with barons?
(a) Barons are known for being cruel and causing trouble.
(b) Barons can do only what the prince orders.
(c) The people tend to give more aligeance to the barrons than to the prince.
(d) The people do not understand the difference between a prince and a baron.

14. What example does Machiavelli give of a prince who regained power after the opposition of the Venetians and Pope Julius?
(a) The Duke of Ferrara.
(b) The Duke of Genoa.
(c) The Duke of Milan.
(d) The Duke of Earle.

15. The cities of what country are given as good examples of fortification?
(a) Spain.
(b) Germany.
(c) Sparta.
(d) France.

Short Answer Questions

1. Aside from granting favors to his subjects during a siege, what does Machiavelli suggest a wise prince might do?

2. What does Machiavelli suggest is the best solution for governing a new territory?

3. In THE PRINCE, why does Machiavelli deal only with dominions and not republics?

4. What were the results of Sparta setting up oligarchies in Athens and Thebes after they conquered them?

5. How did the Romans maintain control in Capua, Carthage, and Numantia?

(see the answer keys)

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