View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How long did Sparta peacefully exist without changing its laws, according to Machiavelli?
(a) 350 years.
(b) Through the reign of Lycurgus.
(c) 800 years.
(d) Until its domination by Rome.

2. How does Machiavelli suggest that a man with power should present himself to a city in turmoil?
(a) "Beauty is power; a smile is its sword."
(b) "...(W)ith as much grace and as honorably as he can, attiring himself with the insignia of his rank which he holds in order to make himself more revered."
(c) "The man of power should present himself with cold ruthlessness and avoid any show of sentimentality."
(d) "Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness."

3. If a cliché could be given to the preface to Book Two of "The Discourses", what would it be?
(a) ."The only thing we learn from history is that we do not learn from history."
(b) "History is written by the winners."
(c) "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
(d) "Go where you belong--on the ash heap of history."

4. Of what should Princes be most ashamed in Machiavelli's view?
(a) Being discovered to be self-absorbed and not devoted to building the strength of their cities.
(b) Missing opportunities to conquer other cities.
(c) Lacking their own soldiers for defense and offense.
(d) Consuming his wealth in debauchery.

5. How does Machiavelli suggest that Princes and other leaders deal with acts that offend their citizens?
(a) Increase their power and penalties for crimes and scare the Citizens into submission and acceptance.
(b) Distract the Citizens by making war against a nearby province.
(c) Make the offense quickly then act to reassure them and give them cause to quiet and firm their spirits.
(d) Increase taxes on the wealthy and use the money in ways that benefit the general masses.

6. What are three reasons that Machiavelli gives for cities becoming unhappy?
(a) When cities face armed challenges from outside institutions, the courts do not act justly, and when leaders abuse their power.
(b) When cities are compelled to reorganize laws by themselves, when the laws diverge from their established institutions, and when the laws lead cities from the right path.
(c) When taxes drain Plebes of their wages, when resources are not allocated equitably, and when Princes seek to expand their influence with wars.
(d) When leaders drain resources to fight wars, when laws become tools for Princes to become more wealthy, when there is taxation without representation.

7. What support did Machiavelli use for his view of what he considers to be the worst example provided by leaders?
(a) A recent denial of appeal by Girolamo Savonarola to five citizens sentenced to death after Savonarola wrote the law allowing appeals.
(b) Tribunes who called the army from foreign provinces and decommissioned its Captains.
(c) The lawlessness that overtook Carthage as its Princes suspended harsh sentences for crimes against the State.
(d) A series of Caesars who named friends to be Captains.

8. What are two reasons Machiavelli gives for foreign forces building a city?
(a) To relieve existing towns of excessive inhabitants and for the defense of the country from which the forces come.
(b) To offer people in other lands the benefits of the existing system and to make their abilities and resources for universally beneficial.
(c) To exercise power over enemies and expand the power of an established system.
(d) To spread the culture of the homeland and use resources for financial development.

9. What does Machiavelli consider to be the means of someone rising from the bottom to gain a great fortune?
(a) Deceit and self preservation.
(b) Diligence and humility.
(c) Force and fraud.
(d) Hard work and creativity.

10. What does Machiavelli suggest causes corruption?
(a) An insufficiency of or inability to enforce laws that deal effectively with corruption.
(b) Rebellious citizens who defy ruling authorities.
(c) Princes who are preoccupied with seeking pleasure rather than power.
(d) Princes who are not cruel enough with punishment.

11. In Book 1, Section 46, Machiavelli credits the ruin of Republics on citizens who jump from one ambition to another. What was the phrase that Sallust put in the mouth of Caesar that explains how such ambitions begin?
(a) "I see the better things, and approve; I follow the worse."
(b) "Vini. Vidi. Vici."
(c) "Beware the Ides of March."
(d) "All evil examples have their origins in good beginnings."

12. What are the two means that Machiavelli identifies as how laws are developed in cities at the beginning of Section 2, Book One.
(a) At one time by one man and by chance at several times according to events.
(b) Through dominion of the wealthy or through bartering agreements.
(c) Through Princes or through Republics.
(d) By war and by peace.

13. What does Machiavelli consider prudence in a Prince or a King?
(a) In times of peace not neglecting the arrangements of war.
(b) Knowing that the enemy of his enemy is his friend.
(c) Keeping friends close and enemies closer.
(d) Picking battles that are important enough to fight and small enough to win.

14. What did Machiavelli identify as the cause of conspiracy against a hereditary Princes?
(a) The larger population of citizens became unhappy with the the political preferences of the Princes.
(b) The general population became dissatisfied with the distribution of wealth.
(c) Less powerful people desired the power of the Prince.
(d) They degenerated from their fathers, and surpassed others in sumptuousness and lasciviousness and in every other kind of delight.

15. What are the three ways a Republic can expand that Machiavelli recognized?
(a) By sending Nobles out to establish colonies, by sending armies out to conquer foreign provinces, and making other provinces associates.
(b) By conquering distant provinces, by supporting other provinces to conquer enemies, and to make allies with strong Republics.
(c) By making trade alliances with wealthy provinces, by joining in war with weak Republics, and by making alliances with powerful tyrannies.
(d) By joining in league with other Republics, make other Republics associates, and to make other Republics subjects immediately.

Short Answer Questions

1. What historical records did Machiavelli use to support his point for keeping two important items out of peril?

2. According to Machiavelli, how did the Nobles of Rome attempt to correct the limit on the wealth that was placed on them by Agrarian Laws?

3. What does Machiavelli consider to be the worst example to be provided by leaders in a Republic?

4. What does "Crescit interea Roma Albae ruinis" mean?

5. What is Machiavelli's explanation for initiating his recommended approach with enemies against an empire?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,271 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample