Answer :
The text evidence that supports Machiavelli's secondary purpose to inform readers about the tactics Sparta and Rome used to hold cities and their effectiveness includes:
1. The description of how Sparta had held Greece: This part of the passage discusses how the Spartans held Athens and Thebes by establishing an oligarchy but eventually lost them. This example shows the tactics used by Sparta and their ultimate outcome, highlighting the effectiveness and limitations of their approach.
2. The explanation of why Rome dismantled Greek cities: The passage mentions that Rome, in order to hold cities like Capua, Carthage, and Numantia, dismantled them but did not lose control. This illustrates Rome's strategy of weakening conquered cities to maintain control, showcasing the effectiveness of this tactic in contrast to Sparta's approach.
3. The characterization of liberty as a "watchword" of rebellion: By portraying liberty as a rallying point for rebellion in cities accustomed to freedom, Machiavelli emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing the concept of liberty when trying to control a city. This characterization adds depth to the discussion of tactics used by Sparta and Rome and their effectiveness in different situations.
These three pieces of evidence from the passage provide insights into the tactics employed by Sparta and Rome to hold cities, demonstrating the challenges and strategies associated with maintaining control over conquered territories.
1. The description of how Sparta had held Greece: This part of the passage discusses how the Spartans held Athens and Thebes by establishing an oligarchy but eventually lost them. This example shows the tactics used by Sparta and their ultimate outcome, highlighting the effectiveness and limitations of their approach.
2. The explanation of why Rome dismantled Greek cities: The passage mentions that Rome, in order to hold cities like Capua, Carthage, and Numantia, dismantled them but did not lose control. This illustrates Rome's strategy of weakening conquered cities to maintain control, showcasing the effectiveness of this tactic in contrast to Sparta's approach.
3. The characterization of liberty as a "watchword" of rebellion: By portraying liberty as a rallying point for rebellion in cities accustomed to freedom, Machiavelli emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing the concept of liberty when trying to control a city. This characterization adds depth to the discussion of tactics used by Sparta and Rome and their effectiveness in different situations.
These three pieces of evidence from the passage provide insights into the tactics employed by Sparta and Rome to hold cities, demonstrating the challenges and strategies associated with maintaining control over conquered territories.