Read this passage from chapter 5 of The Prince. What is Machiavelli's primary purpose in writing this
passage?

~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.

A. to inform readers about the differences between
principalities and republics
le
B. to entertain readers with exciting stories of
historical wars, conquests and rebellions

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

D. to persuade readers that a prince must eradicate
the royal family of a conquered principality