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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. Reviewing earlier chapters of "The Discourses", why would Machiavelli consider long wars in foreign lands important?
2. What does Machiavelli establish as the relationship between gold and good soldiers?
3. How did Roman soldiers provide for themselves before the Senate decided to pay them?
4. According to Machiavelli, what is the first thing that Citizens seek when starting on the path of chasing their ambitions?
5. 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?
Short Essay Questions
1. What are the reasons that Machiavelli gives for people who leave their home country for another out of necessity?
2. What acts by governing officials does Machiavelli consider "pernicious" or damaging to the authority of the government?
3. Why does Machiavelli consider a Citizen rising to take authority through irregular means (popular uprising) harmful in a Republic?
4. Why were the Plebe candidates not suited for the open positions of the Tribunes?
5. To what is Machiavelli referring when he writes of men jumping, "...from one ambition to another?"
6. What are the two reasons that Machiavelli gives for his opinion that the courts (Faculty of Accusing) are the most necessary and useful authority to guard liberty in a City?
7. What does Machiavelli claim to be the practice of writers of history who, "...so obey the fortune of the winners...?"
8. What does Machiavelli consider to be the worst example that can be committed in a Republic?
9. What does Machiavelli mean when he advises that evil in a State be "temporized"?
10. Why did Machiavelli consider the naming of a Caesar (dictator) over Rome was beneficial to the Empire?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
In Book 1, Section 46, Machiavelli applauds the Roman Plebs for having the wisdom not to elect Plebs to the position of Tribunes. Then in Book 1, Section 47 he applauds the Nobles for the methods they used to manage the decision of the Plebs. How does the context of Machiavelli's report in the two chapters form your opinion of Machiavelli's character, his views of freedom, and his views on corruption? Do you agree with Machiavelli's positions in the two chapters? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 2
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 3
Machiavelli details the difference between Excellent and Weak princes in Book One, Section 19. What is your position on Machiavelli's differentiation? Provide the language from the section that helps define you view and use support from history or current events that supports your position.
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This section contains 968 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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