Read this passage from chapter 5 of The Prince.
There are, for example, the Spartans and the Romans.
The Spartans held Athens and Thebes, establishing
there an oligarchy: nevertheless they lost them. The
Romans, in order to hold Capua, Carthage, and
Numantia, dismantled them, and did not lose them.
They wished to hold Greece as the Spartans held it,
making it free and permitting its laws, and did not
succeed. So to hold it they were compelled to
dismantle many cities in the country, for in truth there is
no safe way to retain them otherwise than by ruining
them. And he who becomes master of a city
accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it, may
expect to be destroyed by it, for in rebellion it has
always the watchword of liberty and its ancient
privileges as a rallying point, which neither time nor
benefits will ever cause it to forget. And whatever you
may do or provide against, they never forget that name
What text evidence supports Machiavelli's secondary
purpose to inform readers about the tactics Sparta and
Rome used to hold cities and their
effectiveness? Select three options.
the list of cities conquered by Sparta and Rome
the description of how Sparta had held Greece
the explanation of why Rome dismantled Greek cities
the characterization of liberty as a "watchword" of
rebellion
the example of Pisa rebelling against the Florentines



Answer :

In the passage from chapter 5 of The Prince, Machiavelli discusses the tactics used by Sparta and Rome to hold cities effectively. Let's identify the text evidence that supports Machiavelli's secondary purpose of informing readers about these tactics:

1. The description of how Sparta held Greece: This supports Machiavelli's purpose by illustrating how the Spartans established an oligarchy in Athens and Thebes but eventually lost control. It highlights the challenges of maintaining power over cities.

2. The explanation of why Rome dismantled Greek cities: This text evidence demonstrates Rome's strategic approach to holding cities by dismantling them to prevent future uprisings. It shows how Rome's actions were geared towards ensuring control and stability.

3. The characterization of liberty as a "watchword" of rebellion: This phrase emphasizes the significance of freedom and how it can incite rebellion within cities. It aligns with Machiavelli's message about the complexities of governing free cities and the risks associated with not taking decisive actions to maintain power.

These three pieces of text evidence support Machiavelli's secondary purpose of informing readers about the tactics employed by Sparta and Rome to hold cities effectively. They offer insights into the challenges and strategies related to governance and control, contributing to a deeper understanding of Machiavelli's teachings in The Prince.