Final answer:
Machiavelli's text in 'The Prince' illustrates the tactics used by Sparta and Rome to control conquered cities. The description of Spartan oligarchy, Rome's strategy of dismantling cities, and the example of Pisa's rebellion serve as evidence for the effectiveness of these methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage from The Prince provides examples and analysis of how Sparta and Rome tried to secure their conquered cities. To support Machiavelli’s secondary purpose of informing the readers about the different tactics used by Sparta and Rome and their effectiveness, three pieces of text evidence can be identified:
- The description of how Sparta held Greece by establishing an oligarchy reveals one method of control, which proved to be ineffective as they ultimately lost Athens and Thebes.
- The explanation of why Rome dismantled Greek cities, which is a tactic that contrasts with the Spartan method, highlights Rome’s approach to preventing rebellion by eradicating the roots of possible resistance.
- The example of Pisa rebelling against the Florentines is a historical reference that serves to illustrate the potential for a city accustomed to freedom to remember its traditions and rebel against its conquerors.