Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon in about 540 B.C.E. Why was this conquest important in the history of the Jewish people?

Question

Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon in about 540 B.C.E. Why was this conquest important in the history of the Jewish people?
 A. 
Cyrus allowed the Jews to become citizens of his empire.
 B. 
Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland.
 C. 
Cyrus refused to allow the Jews to practice their religion.
 D. 
Cyrus kept the Jews in captivity for many more years.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The correct answer is:

B. Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland.

Cyrus the Great is known for issuing the Edict of Cyrus, which permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple after their Babylonian exile. This event was significant in Jewish history as it marked a pivotal moment in their return to their ancestral land and the restoration of their religious practices.