Final answer:
The Northern Kingdom, Israel, fell in 722 BCE to the Neo-Assyrian Empire, resulting in mass deportations and the loss of cultural and religious identity for many Israelites.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Northern Kingdom, known as Israel, fell in the year 722 BCE. This event occurred after a period of tension and hostility between the two Hebrew kingdoms, Israel and Judah. Following Solomon's reign, the kingdom was divided, with Israel in the north, becoming a wealthy and influential kingdom with Samaria as its capital.
The biblical account often criticizes the northern kings for straying from pure Yahweh worship and incorporating foreign religious practices into their rule. Over time, Israel's wealth and strategic location attracted the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which sought to control the eastern Mediterranean.
After failed revolts, Israel was devastated by the Assyrians in 722 BCE, leading to mass deportations and the eventual loss of cultural and religious identity for many Israelites, remembered as the "lost tribes" of Israel.