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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 consider to be a great sign of weakness in Republic?

2. When does Machiavelli advise Captains to try new things?

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

4. Who was esteemed as being wise for acting foolish from Livius' history of Rome?

5. What knowledge is necessary for a Captain to be successful?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What are two reasons that Machiavelli claims men have a hard time changing with the times?

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

4. Why does Machiavelli believe, "that men born in a province observe for all time almost the same natures (Book 3, Section 43)?"

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

6. Why does Machiavelli claim that the Senate and Plebes rose up to take control of Rome from Tarquinius Superbus ?

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

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

9. 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?

10. What does Machiavelli write of in Book Three, Section 14 when he reviews, "...new inventions and new voices...," and why does he recommend these to be used in the heat of battle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Machiavelli's favored tactic of forming military divisions for the purpose of absorbing an enemy's initial thrust to the tactic that is known as "Blitzkrieg". Using the American occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan as modern examples of how both are used, as well as the history of Rome and the regime that depended on "Blitzkrieg", give your views on which tactic is more successful.

Essay Topic 2

Niccolo Machiavelli wrote during the Italian Renaissance. Identify two notable events or phenomena from the Italian Renaissance and relate content from "The Discourses" that either might have been a response to or a motivation for them.

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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