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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Machiavelli believe comes to a good army without a good Captain?

2. What does Machiavelli consider necessary to take control over a Republic to install a bad form of government over it?

3. What often happens to Captains who see a tactical error committed by their enemies?

4. How does Machiavelli advise a Captain to consider a tactical error by an enemy?

5. Against whom are conspiracies made?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. When Machiavelli uses the word "esteemed" in reference to artillery and infantry, what does he mean?

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

4. What does Machiavelli recommend to Captains as an element of strategy to assure success in capturing a town?

5. Why does Machiavelli warn Princes from using auxiliary soldiers from another Prince?

6. Why does Machiavelli in Section 28 recommend that Citizens be allowed to obtain honors through public means, but prevented from seeking honors through private means?

7. What are some of methods that Machiavelli identifies that Citizens use to earn private honors?

8. Why does Machiavelli consider saving an army from attack to be an effective method for defending a country?

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

10. Why would there be much bloodshed in the cases that a Republic moves violently from tyranny to freedom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Book 1, Section 50, Machiavelli details the activities of a city being halted by magistrates. Who were the magistrates? What activity was being stopped? How was the situation changed? How does Machiavelli's characterization further define his views on the purpose of government with regard to the purpose of its citizens?

Essay Topic 2

Machiavelli claims that the Roman Caesars did good and not harm to the Roman Republic. Why did Machiavelli make his claim? Do you agree with his assessment? Use information from research on the authority of the Roman Caesars and other statements from history to support your views.

Essay Topic 3

Machiavelli used history of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire to develop much of his support for his positions. What are the dates of the existence of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire, what differences in the forms of government between the two, and what brought the passage of the Republic to the Empire.

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