History of ancient Israel and Judah
In 539 BCE the Persians conquered Babylon and in 537 BCE, inaugurated the Persian period of Jewish history.  In 520 BCE Cyrus the Great allowed Jews to return to Judea and rebuild the Temple (completed 515 BCE).  He appointed Zerubbabel (the grandson of the second to last Judean king, Jehoiachin) governor, but did not allow the restoration of the kingdom. The influence of Zoroastrianism on monotheism, Judaism, as well as Christianity are still the subject of academic debate.