The correct answer is C) Athenians had helped Ionian cities when they revolted against the Persians.
Persian emperor Darius invaded Greece because "Athenians had helped Ionian cities when they revolted against the Persians."
The first Persian invasion started in 492 BC. King Darius of Persia was angry at Greece because Athens had helped the Ionian cities when they rebelled against the Persians. So, King Darius, that hated the Athenians, order Mardonius to lead the invasion. He captured Macedon and Thrace. Athenians and Persian armies fought bloody battles but in the end, the Athenians won the war when they were victorious at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC.
The first people to do so were the Akkadian's king Sargon (reigned 2334–2284 BCE). He conquered the cities of Sumer and brought them under one system of government.