What events and dates marked the beginning and end respectively of the Babylonian Captivity?

The Babylonian Captivity began in 586 BCE when the Babylonian Empire, under King Nebuchadnezzar II, conquered Jerusalem and exiled a significant portion of the Jewish population to Babylon. This period of exile lasted until 539 BCE, when Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon and issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. The return of the exiles and the rebuilding efforts mark the end of the Captivity.