Not sure if this is what you are looking for, it is interesting history from that time period. http://www.ted.com/talks/neil_macgregor_2600_years_of_history_in_one_object/transcript?language=en I am not a scholar.

I'm not one of the scholars here, so I can only point you towards the few resources I'm familiar with . . .

I'm wondering if these Yale Religious Studies lectures might offer what you are looking for. In particular, Session 19: Perspectives on the Exiles and Session 22: The Restoration might be of interest.

The From Israelite to Jew podcast also covers the Babylonian captivity.