Final answer:
Moctezuma II gave gifts to Hernan Cortes and his men in an attempt to encourage them to leave peacefully, possibly because he believed Cortes to be the prophesied god Quetzalcoatl or as a diplomatic strategy to mitigate conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason why Moctezuma II gave gifts to Hernan Cortes and his men can be understood by considering the state of politics and beliefs at the time. Moctezuma may have believed Cortes was the god Quetzalcoatl, due to a prophecy which described the deity's return.
Additionally, there was the aspect of diplomacy; Moctezuma possibly aimed to show hospitality, or perhaps to appease the newcomers as a strategic move. The gifts were likely a combination of these factors, tied to the complex relationship between the Aztec ruler and the Spanish conquerors. Among the options, the most accurate would be C) To encourage them to leave peacefully, as Moctezuma was trying to navigate a tense and uncertain situation. Gifts were often used as a peace offering in the hopes of averting conflict.