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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What can deprive a prince of his princedom?
(a) Extrodinary and irresistable force.
(b) Public elections.
(c) Disagreements within a family of hereditary rulers.
(d) Revolution among the lowest class of subjects.

2. What example does Machiavelli cite as a wholly new princedom?
(a) The new Kingdom of Naples.
(b) The Kingdom of Spain.
(c) Milan under Francesco Sforza.
(d) Venice under the Doge.

3. What does Machiavelli say was the real cause of Cesare Borgia's ultimate failure?
(a) His opposition from the new Pope after the death of Alexander IV.
(b) His lack of knowledge of what to do after his father's death.
(c) His bad choices of political allies.
(d) His ill health after the death of his father.

4. The next best way to rule a new territory, according to Machiavelli, is to establish a colony. Why?
(a) The people who have been harmed can take revenge easily.
(b) The conquered people get lots of land and plenty to eat.
(c) The people can now take justice into their own hands.
(d) The only people really annoyed will be those who have lost their land.

5. What example does Machiavelli give of a conquered territory rebelling against 100 years of servitude?
(a) Persia throwing off the rule of Alexander the Great.
(b) Carthage getting its independence from Rome.
(c) Pisa arising against the Florentines.
(d) Egypt going to war with Sparta.

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

7. What factor does Machiavelli suggest makes it easier to rule a new territory?
(a) If the new Prince leaves the old rulers in place.
(b) If the people like the new food introduced into the dominion.
(c) If the people have never been ruled before.
(d) If the people speak the same language.

8. How can a common citizen rise to political power?
(a) With a lot of money behind him.
(b) As a compromise between two parties.
(c) By popular election.
(d) Through the help of friends.

9. What combination of circumstances does Machiavelli identify in men like Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus?
(a) Strength and fortitude.
(b) Time and location.
(c) Pride and ability.
(d) Opportunity and merit.

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

11. Why does Machiavelli insist that hereditary princedoms are more easily maintained?
(a) All people everywhere actually prefer a prince.
(b) The prince has more power than a republic.
(c) The people are already familiar with that form of government.
(d) The prince changes things often at his own whim.

12. What example does Machiavelli give of a dominion that is a limb of a larger one?
(a) The Medici as part of the Borgia dominions.
(b) The Holy Roman Empire.
(c) The Prince of Venice as part of the dominions of France.
(d) The King of Naples as part of the dominions of Spain.

13. In THE PRINCE, why does Machiavelli deal only with dominions and not republics?
(a) Dominions are much larger than republics.
(b) There were no republics in his day.
(c) He thought dominions were much harder to keep.
(d) He wrote about republics in another work.

14. How does Machiavelli say that the successors of Alexander the Great were able to retain power after his untimely death?
(a) The people were so happy to be rid of Darius that they accepted anyone else.
(b) The people did not care who ruled them.
(c) Under his system, governance was easily transferred to his appointed ministers.
(d) They did not let the people know that Alexander had died.

15. What advantage does Machiavelli point out for Princes who rule hereditary dominions?
(a) People are accustomed to rule by that family.
(b) It is impossible for him to lose his dominion.
(c) The Prince who inherited his donimion can disband his army.
(d) He can get away with having more vices.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the motivation for Machiavelli to write THE PRINCE?

2. How can a prince deal with the people when they see their lands burning outside the city walls?

3. What powerful force does Machiavelli say can efface innovations in government?

4. What type of principality does Machiavelli claim may be kept without talent or fortune?

5. What happened when Rome tried to use the same methods the Spartans had used with Greece?

(see the answer keys)

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