This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Book One, The Development of Rome's Constitution, The Use and Abuse of Dictatorship, The Road to Ruin, Sundry Reflections Based on the Decemvirate.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are three reasons that Machiavelli gives for cities becoming unhappy?
(a) When leaders drain resources to fight wars, when laws become tools for Princes to become more wealthy, when there is taxation without representation.
(b) When cities face armed challenges from outside institutions, the courts do not act justly, and when leaders abuse their power.
(c) When cities are compelled to reorganize laws by themselves, when the laws diverge from their established institutions, and when the laws lead cities from the right path.
(d) When taxes drain Plebes of their wages, when resources are not allocated equitably, and when Princes seek to expand their influence with wars.

2. What are the two means that Machiavelli identifies as how laws are developed in cities at the beginning of Section 2, Book One.
(a) Through dominion of the wealthy or through bartering agreements.
(b) Through Princes or through Republics.
(c) By war and by peace.
(d) At one time by one man and by chance at several times according to events.

3. What can be inferred of Machiavelli's idea of virtue from reading the review of the first three kings of Rome as he begins his discourse of weak Princes and excellent Princes?
(a) That he considers the most weak Princes to practice ambivalence to virtue.
(b) That he considers bureaucratic expertise to be an important virtue for Princes.
(c) The he considers moral integrity to be the primary virtue for Princes.
(d) That he believes being ferocious and warlike is an indispensible virtue for a Prince.

4. What should the reader consider as evil when Machiavelli is advising Princes to "recognize evils".
(a) Evil is anything with which a Prince does not agree.
(b) Evil should be considered to be any influence which challenges the power of the Prince.
(c) Evil is those public reactions that oppose the Prince.
(d) Evil is those human inclinations that cause them to act selfishly.

5. How does Machiavelli expect a city can keep its freedom after a weak Prince follows an excellent Prince?
(a) Only if administrators conspire to act with the virtue of the excellent Prince.
(b) Only if the city does not fall into war with a more virtuous city.
(c) Only if a Prince with the virtue of the excellent Prince follows the weak Prince.
(d) Only if the citizens ignore the weak Prince and organize themselves to retain virtue.