View a FREE sample

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. What is the proverb that Machiavelli reports the Samnites used on the Tuscans to encourage them to make war on the Roman Empire?

3. According to Machiavelli, why did Livius believe the Roman Republic grew?

4. What was the difference between the tactics of the two Roman Consuls Machiavelli used as an example?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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 were the two evils that Machiavelli claims came to Rome as its Empire grew in geographical size?

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. What does Machiavelli believe is the consequence of insulting anyone with words?

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

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 2

At the beginning of Book 2, Machiavelli begins investigating what he considers to be virtuous touches on "virtu" throughout the rest of "The Discourses". Find two characterizations of what Machiavelli considers "virtu" with which you agree and two with which you do not. Explain your positions in each case and give examples of how your choices have been proven through history.

Essay Topic 3

Machiavelli gives seemingly conflicting advice regarding changing governments in Book 1, Sections 25 and 26. Identify the differences between the two situations over which Machiavelli recommends changes and compare one example each that Machiavelli gives in the two chapters to changes in governments to two world events over the last 70 years.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,047 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample