Answer :
The text evidence supporting Machiavelli's secondary purpose to inform readers about the tactics Sparta and Rome used to hold cities and their effectiveness are as follows:
1. The description of how Sparta had held Greece: Machiavelli mentions that the Spartans held Athens and Thebes, establishing an oligarchy but eventually losing them. This illustrates the tactic used by Sparta and the outcome, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining control over conquered territories.
2. The explanation of why Rome dismantled Greek cities: The passage explains that Rome, in order to hold cities like Capua, Carthage, and Numantia, chose to dismantle them rather than keeping them intact. This strategy of dismantling conquered cities highlights Rome's approach to maintaining power and control over territories they conquered.
3. The characterization of liberty as a "watchword" of rebellion: Machiavelli describes how cities accustomed to freedom will use liberty as a rallying point in rebellion. This characterization emphasizes the importance of understanding the psychology of conquered populations and the risks associated with not taking decisive actions to maintain control.
By analyzing these aspects of the text, readers can gain insights into the different approaches employed by Sparta and Rome in holding cities, the challenges they faced, and the effectiveness of various tactics in maintaining control over conquered territories.
1. The description of how Sparta had held Greece: Machiavelli mentions that the Spartans held Athens and Thebes, establishing an oligarchy but eventually losing them. This illustrates the tactic used by Sparta and the outcome, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining control over conquered territories.
2. The explanation of why Rome dismantled Greek cities: The passage explains that Rome, in order to hold cities like Capua, Carthage, and Numantia, chose to dismantle them rather than keeping them intact. This strategy of dismantling conquered cities highlights Rome's approach to maintaining power and control over territories they conquered.
3. The characterization of liberty as a "watchword" of rebellion: Machiavelli describes how cities accustomed to freedom will use liberty as a rallying point in rebellion. This characterization emphasizes the importance of understanding the psychology of conquered populations and the risks associated with not taking decisive actions to maintain control.
By analyzing these aspects of the text, readers can gain insights into the different approaches employed by Sparta and Rome in holding cities, the challenges they faced, and the effectiveness of various tactics in maintaining control over conquered territories.