11 12 13 How does the text structure help the author convey his central idea in this…

11 12 13 How does the text structure help the author convey his central idea in this chapter? By describing the actions taken by the Spartans and the Romans, Machiavelli sets up a comparison with the actions of other conquering forces discussed in the chapter. By contrasting the outcomes of Spartan and Roman conquests, Machiavelli provides evidence to support his claim that a prince must destroy a free city in order to hold it. By contrasting the goals of the Spartans and the Romans, Machiavelli establishes the problem of maintaining control of a conquered city, to which he will propose a solution. By listing the effects of these Spartan and Roman conquests, Machiavelli supports his overall description of how princes do or do not maintain.