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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 two reasons Machiavelli gives for foreign forces building a city?
(a) To exercise power over enemies and expand the power of an established system.
(b) To spread the culture of the homeland and use resources for financial development.
(c) To offer people in other lands the benefits of the existing system and to make their abilities and resources for universally beneficial.
(d) To relieve existing towns of excessive inhabitants and for the defense of the country from which the forces come.

2. What is an obvious counterpoint to Machiavelli's assertion to the benefits of the power of the Caesars to the Roman Empire?
(a) The cost of Empire caused hazards to gather domestically as well as throughout the Empire.
(b) Without the empire is it possible that the hazards the empire faced would not have materialized.
(c) If the Nobles of Rome had not sought to possess distant provinces, there would have been no need for Caesars.
(d) Without the Caesars, provinces of the Empire would have moved to avoid hazards.

3. According to Machiavelli in Section 1 of Book One, who are the two types of people who build cities?
(a) Craftsmen and politicians.
(b) Farmers and merchants.
(c) Men born in their location or foreigners.
(d) Princes and generals.

4. In defending his view that Roman Dictators served their city well, what phrase does Machiavelli use to explain how the Caesars absorbed their power?
(a) "Power corrupts. Knowledge is power. Study hard. Be evil."
(b) "He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still."
(c) "It is power that easily acquires a name, not a name power."
(d) "Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just."

5. What did Machiavelli suggest is the advantage of settling in areas that were "sterile" (barren)?
(a) Barren areas stand at crossroads between fertile areas so they can control trade between prosperous cities.
(b) The isolation from more fertile areas allow for greater freedom.
(c) Residents of sterile areas become more creative and develop technologies that can be sold to more fertile areas.
(d) The poverty of resources would require those living there to have less cause for discord.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are the five types of government identified by Machiavelli?

2. What should the reader consider as evil when Machiavelli is advising Princes to "recognize evils".

3. What does Machiavelli suggest causes corruption?

4. How does Machiavelli predict a citizen will conduct himself if he is not punished for his misdeeds because of his reputation for doing good deeds, according to Machiavelli.

5. What is the main point Machiavelli investigates as he prepares to discuss the affects of strong Princes and weak Princes?

(see the answer key)

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