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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. To whom did Machiavelli refer to demonstrate the value of poverty on the character of leadership?

2. What does Machiavelli recommend that prudent men avoid?

3. How did Phillip of Macedonia avoid battles with Fabius Maximus?

4. What were placed to the right and the left of every battle line of the Roman army?

5. What does Machiavelli predict comes to those Republics that are changed violently.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Machiavelli consider defending an army with fortifications useless with the artillery that was new to his day?

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

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

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

5. Why does Machiavelli recommend that any organization maintain itself by frequently renewing its founding principals?

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

7. Why would there be much bloodshed in the cases that a Republic moves violently from tyranny to freedom?

8. What are two remedies that Machiavelli recommends in Book Three, section16 to prevent a City from becoming corrupted by periods of peace and wealth?

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

10. What is the advice that Machiavelli gives to Princes who take possessions from another Prince?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"The Discourses" were originally written as a letter to two Italian politicians at the time. Explain how that intended audience of this letter shaped the focus and tone of the text. What does Machiavelli's recommendations throughout the book say of the character of the intended audience? Give examples from the book to support your assumptions.

Essay Topic 2

Machiavelli began his observations of war in Book 2. Find Machiavelli's views of three different ways wars benefit a Republic. Respond to his positions with your own views. Support your views with the type of historical documentation Machiavelli used to support his positions. Do not limit yourself to the history of Rome.

Essay Topic 3

In Book 3, Sections 43 and 46, Machiavelli details how customs are handed down in Cities and through families. Give examples from your personal experiences that support statements from the two chapters. If Machiavelli was alive today, how would he evaluate the qualities of customs that are handed down in modern American Cities and families? Use statements from the book to support your assertions.

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