Read this passage from chapter 5 of The Prince.
What is Machiavelli's primary purpose in writing this
There are, for example, the Spartans and the
passage?
Romans. The Spartans held Athens and Thebes,
establishing there an oligarchy: nevertheless they lost
O to inform readers about the history of Rome and
them. The Romans, in order to hold Capua, Carthage,
Sparta and how they built their empires
and Numantia, dismantled them, and did not lose
O to inform readers about the fates of the cities
them. They wished (O hold Greece as the Spartans
conquered by the Spartans and the Romans
held it, making it free and permitting its laws, and did
O to persuade readers that a conquering prince must
not succeed. So to hold it they were compelled to
destroy a former republic if he hopes to hold it
dismantle many cities in the country, for in truth there
O to persuade readers that a republic will remember
is no safe way to retain them otherwise than by ruining
freedom and someday rebel against a conqueror
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, thev never forget that