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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is it that Machiavelli refrains from doing in his book?
(a) Using language of respect that is usually spoken before a prince.
(b) Giving only the facts of great leaders and how they governed.
(c) Using high sounding literary devices to make the work seem more important.
(d) Making everything brief in his writing so that main points are missed.

2. What does Machiavelli suggest may make a hereditary ruler unpopular with his people?
(a) Using his army to gain more territory.
(b) Staying away from the princedom for long periods of time.
(c) Outrageous vices.
(d) Never changing the way they are accustomed to being ruled.

3. What role does morality play in keeping a dominion safe according to Machiavelli?
(a) None whatsoever.
(b) Everything. The Prince must be ruled by God.
(c) It is only necessary for hereditary Princedoms.
(d) Only a little. People barely notice such things.

4. What example does Machiavelli cite as a wholly new princedom?
(a) Milan under Francesco Sforza.
(b) The new Kingdom of Naples.
(c) Venice under the Doge.
(d) The Kingdom of Spain.

5. Why does Machiavelli say a hereditary prince is usually more loved by his subjects?
(a) He allows the people to do exactly as they please.
(b) He goes to school with the children of the princedom.
(c) He has less of a chance of giving offense.
(d) His face is on their coins.

6. How does Machiavelli say that the successors of Alexander the Great were able to retain power after his untimely death?
(a) The people were so happy to be rid of Darius that they accepted anyone else.
(b) The people did not care who ruled them.
(c) Under his system, governance was easily transferred to his appointed ministers.
(d) They did not let the people know that Alexander had died.

7. How does Machiavelli define a new princedom or dominion?
(a) One that does not come from a long line of ruling ancestors.
(b) One that comes from political intrigue.
(c) One that is an entirely new settlement.
(d) One that kills all the citizens of the old regime.

8. What were the results of Sparta setting up oligarchies in Athens and Thebes after they conquered them?
(a) They learned how to retain a possession.
(b) They changed their own forms of government.
(c) They held them for a thousand years.
(d) They lost the new territories.

9. Cesare Borgia was helped in his drive for power by his father. Who was he?
(a) Pope Alexander IV.
(b) Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan.
(c) King Luis XII of France.
(d) The military head of the Orsini.

10. What one thing does Machiavelli insist that every prince needs?
(a) The good will of the people.
(b) To read his book.
(c) Deep pockets.
(d) A strong military.

11. What is Machiavelli removing from the political thinking during a time when the Roman Catholic Church was still appointing Emperors?
(a) He is removing objections to the combination of church and state.
(b) He is removing political involvement of the church.
(c) He is removing God from politics and the power equation.
(d) He is removing constitutional authority.

12. What does Machiavelli cite as the measure of strength of a principality?
(a) Enough money to pay bribes.
(b) The total land area of the principality.
(c) The ability to field a strong army.
(d) The popularity of the prince.

13. Machiavelli says that tensions between the nobles and commoners may result in a principality, a republic, or what other condition?
(a) Democracy.
(b) Heavy taxation.
(c) Indifference.
(d) Anarchy.

14. What happened when Rome tried to use the same methods the Spartans had used with Greece?
(a) They found it easy to get Greeks to adopt Roman ways.
(b) They succeeded by expanding on the Spartan idea.
(c) They succeeded by adding Roman universities to the Greek educational system.
(d) They failed and had to go back and destroy many cities.

15. Why does Machiavelli say that Prince Lorenzo should not be surprised at what he is saying about new princedoms?
(a) He is the only man who knows the facts he is about to reveal.
(b) He will talk only about princes he has known personally.
(c) He is giving the highest examples from history.
(d) He is citing his own experience as a new prince.

Short Answer Questions

1. What characteristic of a leader can change fortune according to Machiavelli?

2. What does Machiavelli say are the two foundations necessary for a princedom?

3. What, according to Machiavelli, will always make a prince's position insecure?

4. What example does Machiavelli give of a prince who had the support of his people and was able to withstand invasion?

5. How can a prince deal with the people when they see their lands burning outside the city walls?

(see the answer keys)

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