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

2. Aside from humble beginnings, what does Machiavelli say that Agathocles and Oliverotto have in common?
(a) They got their positions from other princes.
(b) They refused to resort to political assassination.
(c) They were both Italians.
(d) They knew what they wanted and made a plan to get it.

3. What does Machiavelli suggest is the best solution for governing a new territory?
(a) The new Prince should raise taxes.
(b) The new Prince should live there.
(c) The new Prince should kill his own military commanders.
(d) The new Prince should go away and let the people have self-rule.

4. What one thing does Machiavelli insist that every prince needs?
(a) To read his book.
(b) A strong military.
(c) Deep pockets.
(d) The good will of the people.

5. Why does Machiavelli not use Agathocles as an example of meritorious rise to power?
(a) Because he came from humble beginnings.
(b) Because his cruelty continued after he came to power.
(c) Beause he did not plan what to do after he became prince.
(d) Because he was not successful in gaining control of Sicily.

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

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

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

9. In acquiring a new dominion, if the prince does not use the force of his own arms, what alternative does Machiavelli suggest?
(a) Appeals to the Pope of Rome.
(b) Free elections.
(c) The arms of others.
(d) Political intrigue.

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

11. 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) 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) Cesare Borgia did the same thing to him.

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

13. After Alexander VI, how did the Pope continue to strengthen the Church's position?
(a) By military invasions of other dominions.
(b) By gaining more popularity among the Italians.
(c) By selling ecclesiastical offices and annexing land.
(d) By putting monasteries in new dominions.

14. Why does Machiavelli not discuss democracies?
(a) He called democracy by another name.
(b) He considered them inferior.
(c) He rejected the idea outright as a madness of the Greeks.
(d) None existed at that time.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Machiavelli say was the reason for successes by Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus?

2. Citing Moses, Cyrus, Romulus, and Theseus, what distinction does Machiavelli make about Moses?

3. Cesare Borgia was helped in his drive for power by his father. Who was he?

4. 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?

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

(see the answer keys)

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