When was the first sangha and why was it set up?

The first sangha, or Buddhist monastic community, was established shortly after the Buddha's enlightenment around the 5th century BCE. It was set up to provide a supportive environment for practitioners to follow the Buddha's teachings, engage in meditation, and cultivate ethical conduct. The sangha served as a means to preserve and disseminate the Buddha's teachings while fostering a communal approach to spiritual development.