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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. If a city is well fortified against attack, what will cause the enemy to retreat?

2. Why does Machiavelli insist that hereditary princedoms are more easily maintained?

3. Why is setting up a system of government using conquered citizens effective?

4. Ending his discussion of Ecclesiastical Dominions, why is Machiavelli so circumspect about the current Pope?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Machiavelli mean when he says that dominions are obtained by either good Fortune or merit?

2. Why is it easier to rule a princedom than it is to govern a state or republic?

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

4. How are Ecclesiastical dominions so easily maintained?

5. What are the two types of princedoms as identified by Machiavelli?

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. How does a prince maintain control inside a sieged city when the citizens see their homes and farms being burned outside the city?

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

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

10. Explain why Machiavelli believes a newly conquered territory is harder to govern than a hereditary dominion.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Machiavelli favored the death penalty. Write an essay expressing your opinion on that subject.

Essay Topic 2

Write a short story about an imaginary meeting between Machiavelli and the Godfather.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining how Machiavelli's writing might be different if he were writing today.

(see the answer keys)

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