When did the Babylonian captivity began?

The Babylonian captivity, also known as the Babylonian Exile, began in 586 BCE when the Babylonian Empire, under King Nebuchadnezzar II, captured Jerusalem. This event followed a series of military campaigns and culminated in the destruction of the First Temple and the forced relocation of many Judeans to Babylon. The captivity lasted for about 70 years, ending around 538 BCE when the Persian Empire conquered Babylon and allowed the exiled Jews to return to their homeland.