Question

read this passage from chapter 5 of the prince. but when cities or countries are accustomed to live under a prince, and his family is exterminated, they, being on the one hand accustomed to obey and on the other hand not having the old prince, cannot agree in making one from amongst themselves, and they do not know how to govern themselves. for this reason they are very slow to take up arms, and a prince can gain them to himself and secure them much more easily. but in republics there is more vitality, greater hatred, and more desire for vengeance, which will never permit them to allow the memory of their former liberty to rest; so that the safest way is to destroy them or to reside there. what is machiavelli’s primary purpose in writing this passage? to inform readers about the differences between principalities and republics to entertain readers with exciting stories of historical wars, conquests, and rebellions to convince readers that, to hold a conquered republic, a prince must ruin it or live there to persuade readers that a prince must eradicate the royal family of a conquered principality

Explanation:

The passage contrasts conquered principalities (easy to control after the ruling family is gone) with republics (which have lingering desire for liberty and resistance). It concludes the safest way to hold a conquered republic is to destroy it or reside there, and this is the core argument Machiavelli makes here. The other options are incorrect: the passage is not focused on general differences between principalities and republics, not entertainment, and eradicating the royal family is only a detail about principalities, not the primary purpose.

Answer:

to convince readers that, to hold a conquered republic, a prince must ruin it or live there