Persian Rule and Autonomy

Following the decline and fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, the ancient Near East was reshaped by the rise of the Achaemenid Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great. In 539 BCE, Cyrus conquered Babylon, inheriting its vast territories, which included the land of Palestine. This conquest marked a significant shift in the region's history, bringing it under the dominion of a new, expansive empire that stretched from India to Greece.

The Persian Empire was known for its sophisticated administrative system and, often, a more lenient approach to conquered peoples compared to its Assyrian and Babylonian predecessors. Cyrus famously issued a decree allowing various captive populations, including the Jewish exiles in Babylon, to return to their homelands. This policy had a profound impact on Palestine.