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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 Popular Demand for a Share in Government, The Management of the Populace, The Advantages of Popular Government.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Machiavelli, what caused the Roman Republic to form?
(a) Economic agreements between fertile cities.
(b) Political rivalries between powerful generals.
(c) Class warfare between the patricians and the plebes.
(d) Trade agreements between cities with resources and cities with technologies.

2. 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.
(a) He will become the most effective aide to the Prince and help expand his power over the citizens.
(b) He will eventually become overwhelmed by his conscience and slip away into obscurity.
(c) He will find ways to subvert the Prince and take his power.
(d) He will, in short time, become so insolent as to put an end to all civil law.

3. 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 a Prince with the virtue of the excellent Prince follows the weak Prince.
(c) Only if the city does not fall into war with a more virtuous city.
(d) Only if the citizens ignore the weak Prince and organize themselves to retain virtue.

4. According to Machiavelli, how did the Nobles of Rome attempt to correct the limit on the wealth that was placed on them by Agrarian Laws?
(a) They reduced taxes on themselves and used their increased wealth to buy back their land.
(b) The Nobles took political control over the Senate and changed the laws to allow Nobles to control all the land of the Empire.
(c) Rome would send out armies to colonize lands that were then distributed to Nobles.
(d) They raised taxes on Plebes who used the land awarded to them by the Agrarian Laws.

5. What do fertile areas offer to those who settle there according to Machiavelli?
(a) The ability to affect the economy of sterile areas.
(b) Resources that will sustain a growing population.
(c) Raw materials that can be sent to sterile areas for manufacturing and refinement.
(d) The means by which a city can grow and have the ability to defend themselves.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are the two means that Machiavelli identifies as how laws are developed in cities at the beginning of Section 2, Book One.

2. What does Machiavelli identify as tactics the Citizen seeking not to be harmed uses?

3. Of what should Princes be most ashamed in Machiavelli's view?

4. How long did Sparta peacefully exist without changing its laws, according to Machiavelli?

5. What are the two important items that Machiavelli considers to be unwise for a Prince to put entirely into peril?

(see the answer key)

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