View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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 bureaucratic expertise to be an important virtue for Princes.
(b) The he considers moral integrity to be the primary virtue for Princes.
(c) That he believes being ferocious and warlike is an indispensible virtue for a Prince.
(d) That he considers the most weak Princes to practice ambivalence to virtue.

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

3. Why does Machiavelli suggest wars should be quick with limited damage to the conquered City?
(a) So armies can be brought home to participate in a productive economy.
(b) So Citizens are not burdened by the demands of the war.
(c) So armies can be readied for the next war.
(d) To reduce the cost to the conquering Prince and preserve the resources of the conquered city as booty for the conquering forces.

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?
(a) "Beware the Ides of March."
(b) "All evil examples have their origins in good beginnings."
(c) "I see the better things, and approve; I follow the worse."
(d) "Vini. Vidi. Vici."

5. What was an example from Roman history that Machiavelli used to suggest the Plebes possesses greater wisdom than Nobles?
(a) The willingness of the Plebes to go to war for the glory of Rome.
(b) The failed attempt of the Nobles to put Plebes of ill-repute to selection for Tribunes.
(c) The Magistrates decision to delay battle against the Samnites.
(d) A time when the Plebes could have chosen all Plebes for four Tribunes, chose, instead, four Nobles because they recognized the weaknesses of Plebes filling those offices.

6. How does Machiavelli suggest that a man with power should present himself to a city in turmoil?
(a) "The man of power should present himself with cold ruthlessness and avoid any show of sentimentality."
(b) "...(W)ith as much grace and as honorably as he can, attiring himself with the insignia of his rank which he holds in order to make himself more revered."
(c) "Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness."
(d) "Beauty is power; a smile is its sword."

7. What does Machiavelli consider to be the means of someone rising from the bottom to gain a great fortune?
(a) Force and fraud.
(b) Hard work and creativity.
(c) Deceit and self preservation.
(d) Diligence and humility.

8. From what did Machiavelli develop the information that he wrote into "The Discourses"?
(a) From his world travels to study governments in other cultures.
(b) From interviews with political thinkers of the day.
(c) From research that he did in the many libraries throughout the former Roman Empire.
(d) From long experience and continuous study of worldly affairs.

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

10. What did Machiavelli report led gatherings of people to make laws?
(a) To protect economic activity that benefited the city.
(b) To set order to the defense of the city.
(c) To avoid evils that people committed on others.
(d) So resources could be justly distributed.

11. How does Machiavelli expect a city can keep its freedom after a weak Prince follows an excellent Prince?
(a) Only if the citizens ignore the weak Prince and organize themselves to retain virtue.
(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 administrators conspire to act with the virtue of the excellent Prince.

12. What does "Crescit interea Roma Albae ruinis" mean?
(a) The Roman interrogations ruined Albanian Fertile Crescent.
(b) Rome grew on the ruins of Alba .
(c) Creative Romans will bring ruins to Alba.
(d) Rome and Alba ruined Crete's industry.

13. What is a Prince as Machiavelli uses the term?
(a) A hereditary noble.
(b) An underling to the ruling authority.
(c) A dispatched bureaucrat that carries out orders over a territory.
(d) A monarch over a sovereign system of government and territory.

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

15. What does Machiavelli consider to be the worst example to be provided by leaders in a Republic?
(a) For leaders to avoid harsh punishments for law breakers.
(b) For leaders to choose weak captains.
(c) For leaders to neglect the ordering of an army.
(d) For leaders to make a law and refuse to observe it.

Short Answer Questions

1. If a cliché could be given to the preface to Book Two of "The Discourses", what would it be?

2. What are three reasons that Machiavelli gives for cities becoming unhappy?

3. To what does Machiavelli compare great kingdoms and republics from history?

4. Who were the Decemvirs?

5. Why does Machiavelli consider the Roman Caesars to have been a benefit to the Roman Empire?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,246 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample