Machiavelli


 * Study Questions for Machiavelli**
 * 1) When and where was Machiavelli born?
 * 2) What languages did Machiavelli knew?
 * 3) What kind of problems did Machiavelli deal with in his political career?
 * 4) Where was Machiavelli exiled from and where was he exiled to?
 * 5) What was he accused of?
 * 6) What church was Machiavelli buried in?
 * 7) Who did Machiavelli dedicate //The Prince// to?
 * 8) How did Machiavelli view the role of the temporal power of the Catholic church?
 * 9) What is a famous line from his political thinking?
 * 10) How did Machiavelli see the role of the army in maintaining power? How should an army be formed to be effective?
 * 11) What was the political dream that he addressed in the last chapter of "The Prince"?
 * 12) Name the family that ruled in Florence most of Machiavelli's life.
 * 13) Who took the power during the brief period of the Florentine republic?
 * 14) What is Machiavelli's definition of virtue?
 * 15) Identify two fires that mark the period of the Florentine republic.
 * 16) Describe the "prudent" ruler.
 * 17) What are the two main forces that Machiavelli describes in //The Prince//as influencing man's actions?
 * 18) What is more important for the prince: to follow ideal or practical values?
 * 19) Name the successful comedy written by Machiavelli.
 * 20) What is Machiavelli's definition of "liberality"? Chapter 16.
 * 21) Which pope commissioned Machiavelli to write the history of Florence?
 * 22) Why does Machiavelli have a bad reputation?
 * 23) Why were Pisa and Florence important during Machiavelli's time?
 * 24) Why must a prince be cautious with generosity?
 * 25) Why is Fortune so dangerous to a country/ ruler?
 * 26) Is Machiavelli a realist? a pessimist? an idealist? Explain.
 * 27) Is it better for the prince to be loved or feared?
 * 28) According to Machiavelli, why is Italy so easily defeated by foreigners?