Christian Europe's great synagogues emerged in the cities and large towns of two separate polities almost simultaneously: Poland-Lithuania in the east and the Netherlands in the west. Both countries were a product of the early modern period, having formed between the 1560s and 1580s, and were receptive to Jews for economic reasons. Urbanization, caused by expanding populations and economic growth, was occurring across much of early modern Europe as the Continent slowly recovered from the Black Death (1348-50). In turn, Jewish communities within Poland-Lithuania and the Netherlands were establishing a vibrant cultural and religious environment. This, coupled with a degree of economic success and tolerance by the government, meant that the stage was set for the creation of impressive Jewish ecclesiastical architecture and public space.

Urbanization and developments in Jewish culture during the early modern period played a significant role in the creation of larger synagogues. An expanding Jewish population in urban centres coupled with the growing attendance of women during the seventeenth century created more demand for synagogue space. The growth of urban Jewish communities resulted from a high birth rate and immigration of refugees expelled from countries intolerant of Jews and migrants from rural areas. Overcrowding in synagogues was resolved through the construction of additional buildings or larger edifices, or a combination of the two strategies.