Final answer:
The correct answer is option c) The Persians were defeated, and the Greeks maintained their independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The encounter between the Persians and the Greeks was a defining set of battles known as the Persian Wars, which took place from 492 to 449 BCE. The correct answer to the question is c) The Persians were defeated, and the Greeks maintained their independence. After initially being under Persian rule, the Greek cities of Ionia rose up in what is known as the Ionian Rebellion, with aid from Athens and other Greek poleis. Despite the Persian army's size and might, the Greeks managed to secure victories in several key battles, most notably at the battles of Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea.
Following their victories, the Greeks, led by the Spartans and Athenians, experienced a surge in confidence, which contributed to the Classical Age, well-known for significant cultural and intellectual accomplishments. However, the victory also led to long-term consequences, such as the Peloponnesian War, with Sparta ultimately seeking an alliance with their former enemy, Persia. Furthermore, the Greeks were less isolated post-war, with a loss of some traditional prejudices and a shift in their social and political order.
Ultimately, the Greeks' victories cemented their autonomy and halted the Persian expansion into Europe. These conflicts, especially Alexander the Great's conquests, led to the spread of Greek culture across the Persian Empire, with Greek and Macedonian rulers maintaining control over vast territories even after Alexander's death.