Quiz for Picturing the Past: Tax Collectors

Picturing the Past: Tax Collectors

1. Question

   Which of these best captures the artist’s opinion of tax collectors?

   A.

   Greedy and self-serving parasites

   B.

   A necessary evil

   C.

   A useful and unfairly maligned group

   D.

   Mere servants of more powerful men

   Correct. The answer is a. The facial expressions and rich clothing of the two collectors suggest both the benefits they have received and those they hope to gain in the future from their profession.

   Incorrect. The answer is a. The facial expressions and rich clothing of the two collectors suggest both the benefits they have received and those they hope to gain in the future from their profession.

2. Question

   Which of these developments was closely related to increased aggressiveness in tax collection during the Early Modern period?

   A.

   Calls for religious reform

   B.

   The growth of the state

   C.

   The rise of humanism

   D.

   Agricultural innovation and population growth

   Correct. The answer is b. Larger, more centralized states required more revenue. Thus, their leaders imposed new taxes and devised more efficient means of collecting them.

   Incorrect. The answer is b. Larger, more centralized states required more revenue. Thus, their leaders imposed new taxes and devised more efficient means of collecting them.