Question

2
ead this passage from chapter 5 of The Prince
there are, for example, the Spartans and the
omans. The Spartans held Athens and Thebes,
stablishing there an oligarchy: nevertheless they lost
mem. The Romans, in order to hold Capua
, Carthage
,
and Numantia, dismantled them, and did not
lose
hem. They wished to hold Greece as the Spartans
eld it, making it free and permitting its laws, and did
ot succeed. So to hold it they were compelled
to
ismantle many cities in the country, for in truth there
s no safe way to retain them otherwise than by
uining 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
What text evidence supports Machiavelli's primary
purpose to persuade readers that a
conquering
prince
must destroy a former republic
if he hopes to hold
it? Select three options.
the list of cities Rome and Sparta conquered
the portrayal of Greece as being held by Sparta
the explanation of how Rome held Capua,
Carthage, and Numantia
the description of liberty as a rallying cry for
rebellion in former republics
the example of the Florentines losing control over
Pisa

Answer 1

In Machiavelli's passage from chapter 5 of "The Prince," he argues that a conquering prince must destroy a former republic if he hopes to hold it. Here are three text evidence supporting this idea: 1. The explanation of how Rome held Capua, Carthage, and Numantia: Machiavelli points out that Rome, in order to hold these cities, dismantled them and did not lose control over them. This illustrates his belief that to maintain power over conquered territories, a prince must take drastic measures, including destruction if necessary. 2. The description of liberty as a rallying cry for rebellion in former republics: Machiavelli emphasizes that cities accustomed to freedom will use liberty as a rallying point in rebellion against a new ruler. This highlights the challenge a conquering prince faces in dealing with the inherent desire for independence in republics, suggesting that destruction may be required to prevent rebellion. 3. The example of the Florentines losing control over Pisa: While not explicitly mentioned in the given passage, the reference to the Florentines losing control over Pisa serves as an additional illustration of Machiavelli's point. It underscores the consequences of failing to take decisive actions, such as destruction, to assert and maintain authority over a former republic. By analyzing these aspects of the text, it becomes evident that Machiavelli's primary purpose is to persuade readers that a conquering prince must be willing to destroy a former republic in order to effectively control and retain power over it.