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 or their privileges unless they are disunited or
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

In Machiavelli's "The Prince," the text evidence that supports his primary purpose to persuade readers that a conquering prince must destroy a former republic if he hopes to hold it includes: 1. The explanation of how Rome held Capua, Carthage, and Numantia: Machiavelli illustrates how the Romans successfully retained control over these cities by dismantling them, thus preventing any potential rebellions. This serves as an example of the necessity to destroy former republics to maintain power. 2. The description of liberty as a rallying cry for rebellion in former republics: Machiavelli emphasizes that liberty and ancient privileges become rallying points for rebellion in cities accustomed to freedom. This highlights the challenge a conquering prince faces in holding a republic without eliminating these sources of resistance. 3. The example of the Florentines losing control over Pisa: This example demonstrates the consequences of not taking decisive actions to control a former republic. By showcasing how the Florentines lost control over Pisa due to not destroying it, Machiavelli reinforces the idea that a conquering prince must be willing to dismantle former republics to prevent future uprisings. By using these elements from the text, Machiavelli conveys his argument that a conquering prince must resort to destruction and dismantling of former republics to ensure long-term control and stability.