Jewish Diaspora By ceharper 722 BCE Assyrians conquered Israel Hebrew people were scattered over the Middle East 597 BCE Nebuchadnezzar deported Judaeans 597 BCE Three distinct groups of Hebrews / Beginning of Jewish Diaspora 586 BCE Nebuchadnezzar deported Judaeans 538 BCE Cyrus the Persian allowed Judaeans to return to homeland 63 BCE Judaea became a protectorate of Rome 70 Judaeans revolted 70 Jewish state comes to an end 73 Romans destroyed Jerusalem / annexed Juda as a Roman province / drove Jews from Palestine