Given the limited available historical information, when did Jewish people likely develop the synagogue?

Question

during the Assyrian exile
before the temple’s construction
following the Roman’s conquest of Jerusalem
during the Babylonian exile
while the Jewish people in Judah lived under Persian hegemony

Answer 1

The development of the synagogue is most commonly associated with the period of the Babylonian exile. During this time, the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE led to the need for communal worship and study outside of the temple, which contributed to the establishment of local gathering places for prayer and religious assembly. Therefore, the most likely answer is:

during the Babylonian exile.