What was the root cause of the division of Israel into the northern and southern kingdoms?

AnswerFinkelstein and Silberman (The Bible Unearthed) believe that the kingdoms of Israel and Judah were always separate, with different life styles, different pottery, different myths and legends, and even speaking different dialects of Hebrew. They insist there is no evidence the kingdoms ever were united. On this evidence, the division between Israel and Judah simply comes from their separate origins.

On the other hand, The Bible says that there was once a great United Monarchy of Israel under Kings Saul, Daid and Solomon. The unwise policies and swingeing taxes of Solomon were continued under his son, Rehoboam, resulting in the rebellion of the north. The northern kingdom, known as Israel, broke away under Jeroboam, while Rehoboam continued as king of the southern kingdom of Judah.