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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. What does Machiavelli believe to be important to extending the life of what he calls "mixed bodies" (Republics and Sects)?
(a) Providing the means from the state to keep them secure.
(b) Returning to their original principles.
(c) Keeping turmoil alive between common masses.
(d) Staying in a continual state of war.

2. What does Machiavelli consider one of the most important reasons the Roman Empire was successful in expanding its borders?
(a) It kept Citizens in poverty.
(b) The Senate gave great authority to military leaders over Cities that Rome was attacking.
(c) It had laws that kept the Plebes in their place.
(d) It showed skill in placing Nobles in control over colonies.

3. What type of person does Machiavelli advise against promoting to important positions in a Republic?
(a) Anyone who has killed a rival.
(b) Anyone who is ambitious.
(c) Anyone who has been done a notable injury by someone.
(d) Anyone who has avoided war.

4. What are the two things that give an army confidence according to Machiavelli?
(a) Tactics and technology.
(b) Deception and strength.
(c) Victory and technology.
(d) That it is well armed and organized and each man should know the other.

5. What are the two things that Machiavelli cites as the causes of the dissolution of the Roman Republic?
(a) Contentions that arose from the Agrarian law and the prolongation of military commands.
(b) Sloth and leisure.
(c) Inflation of the currency and bureaucracy.
(d) Defiance of laws by Nobles and corruption of Plebs.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Machiavelli consider it impossible to establish a perpetual Republic?

2. What does Machiavelli name as the reason that good men cannot accomplish good for his country?

3. What, according to Machiavelli, determines whether or not a Republic falls into tyranny.

4. What is the reason Machiavelli claims Princes with weaker armies would rush into battle?

5. In Book 3, Section 25, what does Machiavelli repeat to be the most useful thing to establish in a Republic?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Machiavelli advise those who seek to change a Republic?

2. Why does Machiavelli consider defending an army with fortifications useless with the artillery that was new to his day?

3. Why does Machiavelli consider negotiating peace treaties with insurrectionists to be the most harmful method of ending conflicts in a City?

4. What does Machiavelli consider to be the purpose of expanding an Empire and why must a Prince be well organized in expanding it properly?

5. Why does Machiavelli devote his longest section of "The Discourses" to discussing conspiracy?

6. Why does Machiavelli consider impetuosity and audacity to often be successful for a Prince to take a province that belongs to another Prince?

7. Why does Machiavelli consider sustaining an initial thrust of an enemy to be an effective strategy for winning a battle?

8. What does Machiavelli mean when he discusses using "...deceit in the managing of a war..." and why does he consider it a glorious thing?

9. Why does Machiavelli consider towns more difficult to conquer after the Citizens have been in rebellion?

10. Why does Machiavelli recommend to avoid appointing anyone who has been offended to an important position in government?

(see the answer keys)

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