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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 his desire is for Prince Lorenzo?
(a) That he attain all the merits he deserves.
(b) That he recognizes Machiavelli's genius.
(c) That he sets up a completely new form of government.
(d) That he not become a tyrant.

2. 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.

3. How did the Romans maintain control in Capua, Carthage, and Numantia?
(a) They made them all Roman citizens with new priviliges.
(b) They moved the Roman capital to Carthage.
(c) They destroyed them and set up their own system of government.
(d) They allowed them to select government officials from their own citizens.

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

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

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

7. What powerful force does Machiavelli say can efface innovations in government?
(a) Memories.
(b) Disdain for the past.
(c) Expectations.
(d) More and more innovation.

8. 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 Prince of Venice as part of the dominions of France.
(c) The Holy Roman Empire.
(d) The King of Naples as part of the dominions of Spain.

9. What is it that Machiavelli refrains from doing in his book?
(a) Using high sounding literary devices to make the work seem more important.
(b) Making everything brief in his writing so that main points are missed.
(c) Using language of respect that is usually spoken before a prince.
(d) Giving only the facts of great leaders and how they governed.

10. Who was responsible for weakening the power of Colonna and Orsini, the barons of Rome?
(a) Cesare Borgia.
(b) Remiro d'Orco.
(c) Charles VIII of France.
(d) King Louis VII.

11. How does Machiavelli define a new princedom or dominion?
(a) One that is an entirely new settlement.
(b) One that does not come from a long line of ruling ancestors.
(c) One that comes from political intrigue.
(d) One that kills all the citizens of the old regime.

12. Aside from granting favors to his subjects during a siege, what does Machiavelli suggest a wise prince might do?
(a) Have parties within the walls as though nothing is wrong outside.
(b) Make promises he knows he could never keep.
(c) Get his subjects to do favors for him.
(d) Bribe his nobles to help him.

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

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

15. What is it that Machiavelli prizes most of his possessions?
(a) His knowledge of the actions of great men.
(b) Horses and armor.
(c) Fine fabrics.
(d) Gold and precious gems.

Short Answer Questions

1. Machiavelli says that tensions between the nobles and commoners may result in a principality, a republic, or what other condition?

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

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

4. What does say the sole prince can do that the prince with barons cannot?

5. What factor does Machiavelli suggest makes it easier to rule a new territory?

(see the answer keys)

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