Both primary sources do NOT agree that…
A the Spaniards closed the exits and entrances and massacred the Mexicas
B the Spaniards were violent and excessively violent.
C the massacre of the Mexicas occurred during a festive celebration.
D there were several possible reasons for the violent attacks of the Spanish on the Mexica
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is A: the Spaniards closed the exits and entrances and massacred the Mexicas.
Explanation:
The disagreement between primary sources regarding the actions of the Spanish during the massacre of the Mexicas likely stems from different interpretations and accounts of the event. Specifically, the event referred to is the Massacre in the Templo Mayor during the Feast of Toxcatl in 1520, when the Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés, attacked the Mexica (Aztec) people in their capital, Tenochtitlan.
Different primary sources provide varying details about the event. Some sources, particularly those from Spanish conquistadors such as Bernal Díaz del Castillo, suggest that the massacre occurred unexpectedly and was primarily a result of the Mexica’s rising tension with the Spanish. These sources do not emphasize the idea that the Spaniards closed the exits and entrances in a deliberate attempt to trap the Mexicas. The Spanish sources typically describe a more chaotic and sudden event where the Mexica were caught off guard during a religious celebration.
On the other hand, indigenous accounts, such as those from the Tlaxcalans or the codices, offer a different perspective. They sometimes describe the Spanish as having acted with strategic violence, but not necessarily in the same way. These sources tend to emphasize the political and religious context of the event, pointing to the broader themes of Spanish conquest and the role of religious tension.
Thus, primary sources do not unanimously agree that the Spaniards “closed the exits and entrances” to massacre the Mexica. Instead, they offer different perspectives on why the massacre occurred and how it unfolded. While some accounts suggest the Spanish were strategic and deliberate in their violence, others focus on the role of the Aztecs’ hostility and the unfolding tensions during the fiesta.
Therefore, option A stands out as the correct answer because it suggests a clear, definite action (closing exits and entrances) that is not universally supported by the primary sources.