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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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) "Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just."
(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) "Power corrupts. Knowledge is power. Study hard. Be evil."

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

3. What advice does Machiavelli offer in Book 1, Section 52 to those who want to pursue their ambitions?
(a) "Ambition is the last infirmity of Noble minds."
(b) "...(C)onsider the defects and perils which it [presents], and not to undertake it if it should be more dangerous than useful,...."
(c) "He who is blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher must herafter fall with greatest loss."
(d) "Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make yhou believe that you too can become great."

4. What is another method that Machiavelli reports leaders use to offend their citizens?
(a) Persisting in harsh punishments for misdemeanors.
(b) Refusing to provide wealth to the general masses.
(c) Persisting in acts that are considered offensive to citizens.
(d) Refusing to provide sufficient education for the youth.

5. Considering Machiavelli's praise for the example of how Nobles manipulated the opportunity for Plebes to select their peers for positions of influence, who is the clear intended audience of "The Discourses"?
(a) Plebes who need to know the tactics of Nobles to control them.
(b) Future candidates for election who need to know how to win.
(c) Those who are concerned with how the Republic is being manipulated by people with power.
(d) Nobles seeking methods to keep their power.

6. What does Machiavelli believe will come of agreements made by force?
(a) They will lead to the overthrow of he who has the power to enforce them.
(b) They will not last.
(c) The will lead to the capture of those who are under the power.
(d) They aid to enhance the power of the Prince.

7. How did Machiavelli report that the Nobles controlled the process of Plebes having the opportunity to choose Plebes for four Tribunes?
(a) They began a war and had many Plebes sent to a foreign province.
(b) They controlled the means of Plebes to provide for themselves.
(c) They offered choices between highly reputable Nobles and ignoble Plebes who asked to be considered for the positions.
(d) They were in charge of counting the votes.

8. What are the three ways a Republic can expand that Machiavelli recognized?
(a) By making trade alliances with wealthy provinces, by joining in war with weak Republics, and by making alliances with powerful tyrannies.
(b) By sending Nobles out to establish colonies, by sending armies out to conquer foreign provinces, and making other provinces associates.
(c) By joining in league with other Republics, make other Republics associates, and to make other Republics subjects immediately.
(d) By conquering distant provinces, by supporting other provinces to conquer enemies, and to make allies with strong Republics.

9. Of what should Princes be most ashamed in Machiavelli's view?
(a) Being discovered to be self-absorbed and not devoted to building the strength of their cities.
(b) Consuming his wealth in debauchery.
(c) Missing opportunities to conquer other cities.
(d) Lacking their own soldiers for defense and offense.

10. What support did Machiavelli use for his view of what he considers to be the worst example provided by leaders?
(a) Tribunes who called the army from foreign provinces and decommissioned its Captains.
(b) A series of Caesars who named friends to be Captains.
(c) A recent denial of appeal by Girolamo Savonarola to five citizens sentenced to death after Savonarola wrote the law allowing appeals.
(d) The lawlessness that overtook Carthage as its Princes suspended harsh sentences for crimes against the State.

11. What does Machiavelli suggest as the intention to make war?
(a) To prove the power of the Prince to the Citizens.
(b) To keep Citizens focused on refining their virtue.
(c) To acquire and maintain the acquisition, so as to enrich themselves and not to impoverish the [conquered] country the home country.
(d) To keep Citizens attached to the power of the Prince.

12. How did Roman soldiers provide for themselves before the Senate decided to pay them?
(a) They worked as aides to Senators.
(b) They worked as farmers.
(c) They received sponsorships from Nobles.
(d) They were required to provide for their own needs.

13. What does Machiavelli identify as the easiest way to "...ruin a Republic where the People have authority...."
(a) Cause them to distribute wealth.
(b) For Nobles to cultivate rivalries between partisans among the People.
(c) For the Nobles to promote corrupted Citizens in elections.
(d) Involve them in a brave enterprise.

14. What does Machiavelli recommend to a City that is unable to defend itself, but wants to be protected from anyone who would attack it?
(a) To give itself freely to whomever would defend the city.
(b) Make alliances with powerful Cities.
(c) Train its citizens to form a strong army.
(d) Hire mercenaries.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Machiavelli suggest that a man with power should present himself to a city in turmoil?

2. What does Machiavelli identify as an important action for Nobles to take to control the ambitions of Citizens seeking position?

3. What were the reasons that Machiavelli cited for the Roman Senate choosing to pay a public stipend to fighting men (soldiers)?

4. In Book 1, Section 46, Machiavelli credits the ruin of Republics on citizens who jump from one ambition to another. What was the phrase that Sallust put in the mouth of Caesar that explains how such ambitions begin?

5. How does Machiavelli suggest that Princes and other leaders deal with acts that offend their citizens?

(see the answer keys)

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