Final answer:
Major Jewish population centers that developed after the Babylonian exile include Babylon, Alexandria, and Rome. Jews created vibrant communities in these regions despite diaspora pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the Babylonian exile, major Jewish population centers that developed include Babylon, Alexandria, and Rome. The exile resulted in the forced migration of Judeans to Babylon, where many assimilated but some retained their culture and religion, leading to the production of significant Hebrew writings. When Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, he allowed Judeans to return to Judah, but the beginnings of the Jewish diaspora had already taken root, with many Jews choosing to remain in Babylon and later establishing communities in other areas of the Persian Empire, such as Alexandria in Egypt.
In Rome, the Jewish population increased significantly with Jews arriving as slaves under Pompey the Great and others seeking economic opportunities. Despite facing hostilities, Jewish culture thrived in these regions, with synagogues and community life becoming central to Jewish existence in the diaspora.
The reference to Jerusalem is not directly applicable to the development of Jewish centers after the exile, as Jerusalem was the homeland from which the Jews were exiled, and although it was eventually rebuilt, it was not a new center that developed after the exile.