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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. What role does morality play in keeping a dominion safe according to Machiavelli?
(a) It is only necessary for hereditary Princedoms.
(b) None whatsoever.
(c) Everything. The Prince must be ruled by God.
(d) Only a little. People barely notice such things.

4. What does Machiavelli suggest is the weakness of a mercenary military?
(a) It is only useful during times of war.
(b) It is too expensive to keep up during peace times.
(c) It works only for pay and may defect to the opposition or simply run away.
(d) It is difficult to replace members who decide to return to their homes.

5. What happened when Rome tried to use the same methods the Spartans had used with Greece?
(a) They found it easy to get Greeks to adopt Roman ways.
(b) They succeeded by expanding on the Spartan idea.
(c) They failed and had to go back and destroy many cities.
(d) They succeeded by adding Roman universities to the Greek educational system.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Machiavelli say Agathocles became Prince of Syracuse?

2. What reasons does Machiavelli put forward to get Prince Lorenzo to read his book?

3. What does Machiavelli suggest makes for peace in a dominion?

4. Why does Machiavelli say a hereditary prince is usually more loved by his subjects?

5. In the event that the prince cannot afford a large army, what should he do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the factors that may make it easier for a new prince to rule.

2. Briefly write down how Machiavelli describes Agathocles of Sicily.

3. If a hereditary prince loses his dominion in war, will he be able to regain his former position? Explain.

4. How does Machiavelli distinguish between proper and improper use of cruelty?

5. Describe the weakness Machiavelli sees with using mercenaries as the primary military strength of the prince.

6. Explain how, according to Machiavelli, Alexander the Great was able to establish a government in Persia that lasted long after his untimely death.

7. Explain how Machiavelli says Cesare Borgia came to power.

8. Describe the reasons Machiavelli says the German cities are so secure.

9. What makes the instability of the Orsini and Cologna a constant struggle.

10. What is the difference between a principality established by the nobles and one set up by the commoners?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,210 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample