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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who does Machiavelli put forward as an example of a King who made all the mistakes in ruling a new territory?
(a) Archduke Ferdinand of Austria.
(b) Duke Lodovico.
(c) Louis XII of France.
(d) Charles I of Spain.

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

3. 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.

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) He was accidentally killed by a poorly aimed arrow.
(b) A son of one of the murdered men put poison in his wine.
(c) He died of natural causes before he could become Prince of Fermo.
(d) Cesare Borgia did the same thing to him.

5. What characteristic of a leader can change fortune according to Machiavelli?
(a) The intervention of God.
(b) A person's innate ability.
(c) The will of the people.
(d) Being at the right place and in the right time.

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

7. How does Machiavelli describe the temper (mindset) of the public?
(a) Fickle.
(b) Careless.
(c) Easily maintained.
(d) Ignorant.

8. What was the motivation for Machiavelli to write THE PRINCE?
(a) He wanted to become a famous author.
(b) He wanted to start a revolution.
(c) He wanted to become a prince.
(d) He wanted Prince Lorenzo de Medici to employ him.

9. What was Cesare Borgia's greatest mistake according to Machiavelli?
(a) Allowing the election of Pope Julius II.
(b) Helping the Spanish cardinals elect a Spanish Pope.
(c) Distancing himself from the French court.
(d) Failure to get medical attention soon enough.

10. What does say the sole prince can do that the prince with barons cannot?
(a) Change his residence whenever he likes.
(b) Shift the rulers of territories at his discretion.
(c) Move the subjects from place to place.
(d) Travel any time he wants.

11. Why does Machiavelli say a hereditary prince is usually more loved by his subjects?
(a) He has less of a chance of giving offense.
(b) He allows the people to do exactly as they please.
(c) His face is on their coins.
(d) He goes to school with the children of the princedom.

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

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Machiavelli say are the two foundations necessary for a princedom?

2. What is the advantage of the sole prince as ruler?

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

4. What is the Renaissance Italian's view of political misfortune?

5. The next best way to rule a new territory, according to Machiavelli, is to establish a colony. Why?

(see the answer keys)

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