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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Book Three, The Examples of Rome's Great Men, Sundry Remarks on Strategy, Tactics, New Devices and Discipline, Administrative Posts, Administrative Methods: The Rival Claims of Severity and Good Fellowship.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What were the reasons that Machiavelli cited for the Roman Senate choosing to pay a public stipend to fighting men (soldiers)?
(a) To increase the number of soldiers in the army.
(b) To keep the citizens in poverty so they would support wars.
(c) Because without the stipend, wars could not be made for any length of time, neither could Rome besiege towns nor lead armies to a distance.
(d) To hide the increased taxes that were used to build houses for Nobles.

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

3. What does Machiavelli write will prevent a bad Citizen from working evil in a Republic?
(a) The absence of corruption.
(b) Conspiracy against the bad Citizen.
(c) General disregard for their reputation.
(d) The government taking steps to temporize the bad Citizen.

4. In the comparison between the tactics of Scipio and Hannibal, what does Machiavelli consider to be praiseworthy?
(a) Surprise.
(b) Success.
(c) New uses of artillery.
(d) Feigned foolishness.

5. What did Machiavelli identify as the cause of conspiracy against a hereditary Princes?
(a) Less powerful people desired the power of the Prince.
(b) The larger population of citizens became unhappy with the the political preferences of the Princes.
(c) They degenerated from their fathers, and surpassed others in sumptuousness and lasciviousness and in every other kind of delight.
(d) The general population became dissatisfied with the distribution of wealth.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Machiavelli claim these forms of government developed?

2. In what cases does Machiavelli endorse acting foolishly?

3. What does Machiavelli claim to be the cause of Princes losing inherited power?

4. Why does Machiavelli suggest that a Prince keep his conquered territories disunited from the City over which he has his power?

5. What does Machiavelli predict will come of corrupted Republics if they do not take the important step of extending its life?

(see the answer key)

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