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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Reviewing earlier chapters of "The Discourses", why would Machiavelli consider long wars in foreign lands important?
(a) Because long wars give Nobles an opportunity for Nobles to encourage Plebes to perform glorious works for the Republic.
(b) Because Machiavelli considers fighting wars and building empires to be signs of virtuous leaders.
(c) Because long wars assures that poverty will be maintained for everyone in the Republic.
(d) Because Machiavelli suggested long wars helped to keep Republics united.

2. What does Machiavelli establish as the relationship between gold and good soldiers?
(a) Gold is not sufficient to find good soldiers, but good soldiers are indeed sufficient to find gold.
(b) Gold attracts good soldiers.
(c) Gold will cause good soldiers to go bad.
(d) The promise of gold will make soldiers weaker.

3. What are the five types of government identified by Machiavelli?
(a) Democracy, anarchy, monarchy, constitutional, and institutional.
(b) Republic, fascistic, democracy, principality, and oligarchy.
(c) Tyranny, constitutional, military oligarchy, principality, and democracy.
(d) Monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, oligarchy, and anarchy.

4. How long did Sparta peacefully exist without changing its laws, according to Machiavelli?
(a) Until its domination by Rome.
(b) 350 years.
(c) Through the reign of Lycurgus.
(d) 800 years.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Machiavelli suggest is the advantage of settling in areas that were "sterile" (barren)?

2. According to Machiavelli, how did the Agrarian Laws violate the foundation of well-ordered Republics?

3. What does Machiavelli suggest as the intention to make war?

4. What does Machiavelli claim causes ingratitude from a conquered citizenry?

5. What did Machiavelli establish as the cycle of governing forms?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Machiavelli believe that people who break away from the rule of a Prince have difficulty keeping their freedom?

2. In the title of Book 1, Section 8, what does Machiavelli mean with the phrase, "...so much so calumnies are pernicious...?"

3. What are the three types of state that Machiavelli detailed and by what name are they known today?

4. Why does Machiavelli advise that a Prince "temporize" a perceived evil in his State?

5. Why does Machiavelli consider a Citizen rising to take authority through irregular means (popular uprising) harmful in a Republic?

6. Why does Machiavelli report that the Roman Senate decided to pay a public stipend to the soldiers in the army?

7. What examples from history does Machiavelli claim offers guidance to leaders?

8. What two methods did Machiavelli identify that Roman Nobility drew honor from the Plebes?

9. What kind of Prince does Machiavelli consider to be weak?

10. What does Machiavelli claim to be the practice of writers of history who, "...so obey the fortune of the winners...?"

(see the answer keys)

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