Middle earth.docx

8/14/2019 Middle earth.docx

1/32

Middle-earthFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, seeMiddle-earth (disambiguation).

Middle-earth

"A Map of Middle-Earth"byPauline Baynes,1970

The Hobbit

The Lord of the Ringslocation

Creator J. R. R. Tolkien

Genre Novel/Film

Type Fantasy world

Notable locations Fangorn

Gondor

Isengard

Khazad-dm

Lothlrien

Mordor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_(disambiguation)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_(disambiguation)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_(disambiguation)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Map_of_Middle-Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Map_of_Middle-Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Map_of_Middle-Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Bayneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Bayneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Bayneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangornhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangornhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isengardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isengardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothl%C3%B3rienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothl%C3%B3rienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Baynes-Map_of_Middle-earth.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothl%C3%B3rienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isengardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangornhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_Bayneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Map_of_Middle-Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_(disambiguation)


2/32

Rivendell

Rohan

The Shire

Mirkwood

Notable characters Valar

Maiar

Elves

Men

Dwarves

Hobbits

Ents

Eagles

Orcs

Trolls

Dragons

Wizards

Middle-earthis thefictional universesettingof the majority of authorJ. R. R. Tolkien'sfantasy writings.The

HobbitandThe Lord of the Ringstake place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much ofThe

SilmarillionandUnfinished Tales.Properly, Middle-earth is the central continent of the imagined world, not a

name of the entire world.

Tolkien prepared several maps of Middle-earth and of the regions of Middle-earth where his stories took

place. Some were published in his lifetime, though some of the earliest maps were not published until after

his death. The main maps were those published in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion,

and Unfinished Tales. Most of the events of the First Age took place in the subcontinent Beleriand, which

was later engulfed by the ocean at the end of the First Age; the Blue Mountains at the right edge of the map

of Beleriand are the same Blue Mountains that appear on the extreme left of the map of Middle-earth in the

Second and Third Ages. Tolkien's map of Middle-earth, however, shows only a small part of the world; most

of the lands ofRhnandHaradare not shown on the map, and there are also other continents.

Tolkien wrote many times that Middle-earth islocated on our Earth.[1]He described it as an imaginary period

in Earth's past, not only in The Lord of the Rings,[2]but also in several letters.[3]He put the end of theThird

Ageat about 6,000 years before his own time,[4]and the environs of the Shire in what is now northwestern

Europe (Hobbitonfor example was set at the same latitude as Oxford),[5]though in replies to letters he

would also describe elements of the stories as a "... secondary or sub-creational reality" or "Secondary

belief".[6]During an interview in January 1971, when asked whether the stories take place in a different era,

he stated, "No ... at a different stage of imagination, yes. "[1][7]However, he did nod to the stories' setting on

Earth; speaking of Midgardand Middle-earth, he said: "Oh yes, they're the same word. Most people have
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivendellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivendellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohan_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohan_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirkwoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirkwoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maia_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maia_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orc_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orc_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizard_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizard_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_universehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_universehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setting_(narrative)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setting_(narrative)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setting_(narrative)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien%27s_legendariumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien%27s_legendariumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien%27s_legendariumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfinished_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfinished_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfinished_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%BBnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%BBnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%BBnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haradhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haradhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haradhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbitonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbitonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbitonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbitonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haradhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%BBnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfinished_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien%27s_legendariumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setting_(narrative)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_universehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizard_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orc_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maia_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirkwoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohan_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivendell


3/32

made this mistake of thinking Middle-earth is a particular kind of earth or is another planet of the science

fiction sort but it's just an old fashioned word for this world we live in, as imagined surrounded by the

Ocean."[1]He continued to make references to its being "... a brief episode of History" of Earth as late as

1971.[8]

Contents

[hide]

1 The stories

2 Historical conceptions

o 2.1 Etymology

o 2.2 Use by Tolkien

o 2.3 Usage and misunderstandings 3 Geography

o 3.1 Middle-earth cosmology

o 3.2 The Beginning of Days

o 3.3 The First Age

o 3.4 The Second and Third Ages

o 3.5 Maps of Middle-earth

o 3.6 Correspondence with the geography of Earth

4 History

o 4.1 Ainulindal

o 4.2 The Beginning of Days

o 4.3 The First Age

o 4.4 The Second Age

o 4.5 The Third Age

5 Languages and peoples

o 5.1 Ainur

o 5.2 Elves

o 5.3 Men

o 5.4 Dwarves

o 5.5 Hobbits

o 5.6 Other races

6 Books

o 6.1 Middle-earth works by Tolkien

7 Adaptations

o 7.1 Films
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_storieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_storieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Historical_conceptionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Historical_conceptionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Use_by_Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Use_by_Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Usage_and_misunderstandingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Usage_and_misunderstandingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Middle-earth_cosmologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Middle-earth_cosmologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Beginning_of_Dayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Beginning_of_Dayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Second_and_Third_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Second_and_Third_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Maps_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Maps_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Correspondence_with_the_geography_of_Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Correspondence_with_the_geography_of_Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Ainulindal.C3.ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Ainulindal.C3.ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Beginning_of_Days_2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Beginning_of_Days_2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_First_Age_2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_First_Age_2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Second_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Second_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Languages_and_peopleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Languages_and_peopleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Ainurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Ainurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Elveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Elveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Menhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Menhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Dwarveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Dwarveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Hobbitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Hobbitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Other_raceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Other_raceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Bookshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Bookshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Middle-earth_works_by_Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Middle-earth_works_by_Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Adaptationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Adaptationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Filmshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Filmshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Filmshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Adaptationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Middle-earth_works_by_Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Bookshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Other_raceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Hobbitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Dwarveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Menhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Elveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Ainurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Languages_and_peopleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Second_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_First_Age_2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Beginning_of_Days_2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Ainulindal.C3.ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Correspondence_with_the_geography_of_Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Maps_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Second_and_Third_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_Beginning_of_Dayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Middle-earth_cosmologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Usage_and_misunderstandingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Use_by_Tolkienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Historical_conceptionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#The_storieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-Gerrolt-1


4/32

o 7.2 Games

o 7.3 Middle-earth in other works

8 See also

9 References

10 Works cited

11 Further reading

12 External links

The stories[edit]

Tolkien's stories chronicle the struggle to control the world (calledArda)and the continent of Middle-earth:

on one side, the angelicValar,theElvesand their allies amongMen;on the other, the

demonicMelkoror Morgoth(a Vala fallen into evil) and his minions, mostlyOrcs,Dragonsand enslaved

Men. In later ages, after Morgoth's defeat and expulsion from Arda, his place was taken by his

lieutenantSauron.

The Valar withdrew from direct involvement in the affairs of Middle-earth after the defeat of Morgoth, but in

later years they sent the wizards orIstarito help in the struggle against Sauron. The most important wizards

wereGandalf the GreyandSaruman the White.Gandalf remained true to his mission and proved crucial in

the fight against Sauron. Saruman, however, became corrupted and sought to establish himself as a rival to

Sauron for absolute power in Middle-earth. Other races involved in the struggle against evil

wereDwarves,Entsand most famouslyHobbits.The early stages of the conflict are chronicled inThe

Silmarillion,while the final stages of the struggle to defeat Sauron are told in The Hobbitand inThe Lord of

the Rings.

Conflict over the possession and control of precious or magical objects is a recurring theme in the stories.

TheFirst Ageis dominated by the doomed quest of the elfFanorand most of hisNoldorinclan to recover

three precious jewels called theSilmarilsthat Morgoth stole from them (hence the title The Silmarillion).

TheSecondandThird Ageare dominated by the forging of theRings of Power,and the fate of theOne

Ringforged by Sauron, which gives its wearer the power to control or influence those wearing the other

Rings of Power (hence the title The Lord of the Rings).

Historical conceptions[edit]

Etymology[edit]

In ancientGermanic mythology,the world of Men is known by several names, such

asMidgard,Middenheim,Manaheim, andMiddengeard.TheOld Englishword middangearddescends from

an earlierGermanicword and so hascognatesin languages related to Old English such as the Old

Norseword MigarrfromNorse mythology,transliterated to modern English as Midgard.[9]

The term "Middle-earth"; also commonly referred to as "middle-world," was therefore not invented by

Tolkien. It occurs inEarly Modern English[10]as a development of theMiddle Englishword middel-erde(cf.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Gameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Gameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Middle-earth_in_other_workshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Middle-earth_in_other_workshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Works_citedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Works_citedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orc_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orc_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orc_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandalfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandalfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandalfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%ABanorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%ABanorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%ABanorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noldorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noldorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noldorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silmarilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silmarilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silmarilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Ringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Ringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Ringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Ringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midgardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midgardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midgardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middenheimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middenheimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middenheimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middengeardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middengeardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middengeardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Modern_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_languageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middengeardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middenheimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midgardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Ringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Ringhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silmarilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noldorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%ABanorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandalfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orc_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Works_citedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Middle-earth_in_other_workshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#Games


5/32

modern German Mittelerde), which developed in turn, through a process offolk

etymology,[11]from middaneard(the gbeing soft, i.e. pronounced like yin its modern descendant

"yard"[12][13]). By the time of theMiddle Englishperiod, middangeardwas being written

as middellrd, midden-erde, or middel-erde, indicating that the second element had been reinterpreted,

based on its similarity to the word for "earth".[11]The shift in meaning was not great,

however: middangeardproperly meant "middle enclosure" instead of "middle-

earth";[14]Nevertheless middangeardhas been commonly translated as "middle-earth" and Tolkien followed

this course.

Use by Tolkien[edit]

Tolkien first encountered the term middangeardin an Old English fragment he studied in 1914:

ala arendel engla beorhtast / ofer middangeard monnum sended.

Hail Earendel, brightest of angels / above the middle-earth sent unto men.

This quote is from the second of the fragmentary remnants of theCristpoems byCynewulf.The

name arendelwas the inspiration for Tolkien's marinerErendil,[15]who set sail from the lands of Middle-

earth to ask for aid from the angelic powers, theValar.Tolkien's earliest poem about Erendil, from 1914,

the same year he read the Crist poems, refers to "the mid-world's rim" .[16]

The concept of middangeardwas considered by Tolkien to be the same as a particular usage of

theGreekword -oikoumen(from which the wordecumenicalis derived). In this usage Tolkien

says that the oikoumenis "the abiding place of men";

[17]

by this he means it is the physical world in whichMan lives out his life and destiny, as opposed to the unseen worlds, likeHeavenorHell.

"Middle-earth is ... not my own invention. It is a modernization or alteration ... of an old word for the

inhabited world of Men, the oikoumene: middle because thought of vaguely as set amidst the encircling

Seas and (in the northern-imagination) between ice of the North and the fire of the South. O.

English middan-geard, mediaeval E. midden-erd, middle-erd. Many reviewers seem to assume that Middle-

earth is another planet!"

J.R.R. Tolkien, Letters, no. 211[18]

The term Middle-earth is not, however, used in Tolkien's earliest writings about his created world: writings

that date from the early 1920s and which were later published inThe Book of Lost Tales(1983-4); nor is the

term used inThe Hobbit(1937).[16]Tolkien began to use the term "Middle-earth" in the latter part of the

1930s, in place of the earlier terms "Great Lands", "Outer Lands", and "Hither Lands" that he had used to

describe this region in his stories.[16]The term Middle-earth appears in the drafts of The Lord of the Rings,

and the first published appearance of the word "Middle-earth" in Tolkien's works is in the Prologue to that

work: "...Hobbits had, in fact, lived quietly in Middle-earth for many long years before other folk even

became aware of them."[19]

Usage and misunderstandings[edit]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-etymonline-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-etymonline-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-etymonline-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-etymonline-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-etymonline-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-etymonline-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynewulfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynewulfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynewulfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4rendilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4rendilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oikoumenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oikoumenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oikoumenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Lost_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Lost_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Lost_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-LOTR2-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-LOTR2-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-LOTR2-19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-LOTR2-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Lost_Taleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oikoumenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-RingofWords164-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4rendilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynewulfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-etymonline-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-etymonline-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_etymology


6/32

The term Middle-earth can be also applied as a nickname of the entirety of Tolkien's creation, instead of the

more appropriate, but less known termsArdawhich refers to Tolkien's world (includingcelestial bodies),

andE,which refers to the universe. This is seen also in the title of books such asThe Complete Guide to

Middle-earth,The Road to Middle-earth,The Atlas of Middle-earth,and in particular the seriesThe History

of Middle-earth,all of which cover areas outside of the strict geographical definition of the term Middle-

earth. Tolkien himself used the term loosely at times.

A possible explanation is that the word Arda is never mentioned in The Lord of the Rings, and it was not

until the 1977 publication ofThe Silmarillionthat readers learned of the word.

The term "Middle-earth" is sometimes mis-capitalised as "Middle-Earth"[20]and the hyphen is sometimes

incorrectly omitted as well, as in "Middle Earth", "Middle earth" and "Middleearth".

Geography[edit]

Within the overall context of hislegendarium,Tolkien's Middle-earth was part of his created world of Arda

(which includes theUndying LandsofAmanandEressa,removed from the rest of the physical world),

which itself was part of the wider creation he calledE.

Middle-earth cosmology[edit]

Main article:Middle-earth cosmology

One way to understand Middle-earth's place in Tolkien's complex system is to see his whole creation as a

series of worlds within worlds. As the outer layer is the whole universe itself, called by Tolkien "E". Within

E are many mysterious and unknown worlds, but the events of his stories take place in the world called

"Arda". Arda is what we would call Earth, called by Tolkien "Imbar" or "Ambar" (meaning 'the Habitation')

and the sun, moon and stars which revolve around it. Within Arda are the continents ofAmanand Middle-

earth (which was actually two or even more continents), which are separated from each other by the Great

SeaBelegaer(analogous to theAtlantic Ocean). Within his stories, Tolkien translated the name "Middle-

earth" as Endor(or sometimes Endr) and Ennorin theElvish

languagesQuenyaandSindarinrespectively, sometimes referring only to the continent that the stories take

place on, with another southern continent called theDark Land.

The western continent, Aman, was the home of the Valar and the Elves called theEldar.An uninhabited

Eastern continent is also mentioned, but does not figure in the stories. The island ofNmenorlay in

Belegaer between Aman and Middle-earth, but was later drowned. In later ages Aman was also removed by

the creatorEru Ilvatarfrom Arda completely to prevent Men from trying to reach it.

In the beginning Ambar was supposed to be a "flat world", in that its habitable land-masses were all

arranged on one side of the world. Tolkien's sketches show a disc-like face for the world which looked up to

the stars. However, according to accounts in both The Silmarillionand The Lord of the Rings, when the king

of Nmenor calledAr-Pharazninvaded Aman to seize immortality from the Valar, they laid down their

guardianship of the world and Ilvatar intervened, destroying Nmenor, removing Aman "from the circles of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_objecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_objecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_objecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Complete_Guide_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Complete_Guide_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Complete_Guide_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Complete_Guide_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlas_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlas_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlas_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendariumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendariumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendariumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undying_Landshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undying_Landshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undying_Landshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eress%C3%ABahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eress%C3%ABahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eress%C3%ABahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_cosmologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_cosmologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_cosmologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belegaerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belegaerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belegaerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvish_languages_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvish_languages_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvish_languages_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quenyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quenyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quenyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindarinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindarinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindarinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Landhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Landhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Landhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldali%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldali%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldali%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BAmenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BAmenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BAmenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eru_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eru_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eru_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar-Pharaz%C3%B4nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar-Pharaz%C3%B4nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar-Pharaz%C3%B4nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar-Pharaz%C3%B4nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eru_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BAmenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldali%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Landhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindarinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quenyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvish_languages_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvish_languages_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belegaerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_cosmologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eress%C3%ABahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undying_Landshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendariumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlas_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Complete_Guide_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Complete_Guide_to_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%A4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_objecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arda_(Middle-earth)


7/32

the world", and reshaping Ambar into the round world of today. The Akallabthsays that the Nmenreans

who survived the Downfall sailed as far west as they could in search of their ancient home, but their travels

only brought them around the world back to their starting points. Hence, before the end of the Second Age,

the transition from "flat Earth" to "round Earth" had been completed. New lands were also created in the

west, analogous to theNew World.

A few years after publishing The Lord of the Rings, in a note associated with the unique narrative story

"Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth" (which is said to occur in Beleriand during theWar of the Jewels), Tolkien

equated Arda with the Solar System; because Arda by this point consisted of more than one heavenly body

(Valinor being another planet and the Sun and Moon being celestial objects in their own right and not

objects orbiting the Earth).

The Beginning of Days[edit]

Tolkien wrote that Middle-earth or Endor originally conformed to a largely symmetrical scheme that was

marred byMelkor.The various conflicts with Melkor (as well as by the action of the Valar on one occasion)

resulted in the shapes of the lands being distorted.

Originally, Arda began as a single flat world and the Valar createdtwo lampsto illuminate it, Illuin and

Ormal. The ValaAulforged great towers, Helcar in the furthest north, and Ringil in the deepest south. Illuin

was set upon Helcar and Ormal upon Ringil. In the middle, where the light of the lamps mingled, the Valar

dwelt at the island ofAlmarenin the midst of a Great Lake. When viewed from space, the geography of

Arda was thus symmetrical. When Melkor destroyed the Lamps of the Valar, two vast inland seas (Helcar

and Ringil) and two major seas (Belegaer and the Eastern Sea) were created, but Almaren and its lake

were destroyed.

The Valar left Middle-earth and went to the newly formed continent of Aman in the west, where they created

their home calledValinor.To discourage Melkor from assailing Aman, they thrust the continent of Middle-

earth to the east, thus widening Belegaer at its middle and raising five major mountain ranges in Middle-

earth which adopted a relatively symmetrical distribution, namely the Blue, Red, Grey, Yellow Mountains

and the Mountains of the Wind. This act, however, ruined the symmetry of the shape of the continents and

their intervening seas.

Many centuries after Valinor was established, Melkor raised theMisty Mountainsto impede the progress of

the ValaOromas he hunted Melkor's beasts during the period of darkness in Middle-earth prior to the

awakening of theElves.

Additional changes occurred when the Valar assaultedUtumno,some years after the Awakening of the

Elves. The North-west of Middle-earth, notably the regions west of the Blue Mountains (named Beleriand)

wherein Melkor met the Valar host, was "much broken". Belegaer, the sea between Middle-earth and Aman

widened further, creating among other bays one which was the Bay of Balar, the confluence ofSirion.The

highland ofDorthonionand the mountains aboutHithlumwere also a result of the battles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akallab%C3%AAthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akallab%C3%AAthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akallab%C3%AAthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Jewelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Jewelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Jewelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aul%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aul%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aul%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almarenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almarenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almarenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valinorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valinorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valinorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orom%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orom%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orom%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utumnohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utumnohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utumnohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Sirionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Sirionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Sirionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorthonionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorthonionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorthonionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hithlumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hithlumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hithlumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hithlumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorthonionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Sirionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utumnohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orom%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valinorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almarenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aul%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Jewelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akallab%C3%AAth


8/32

In the central region of Middle-earth, a Great Gulf (of Belegaer) was formed (the precursor to the laterBay

of Belfalas). To the far south, the Inland Sea of Ringil expanded greatly and separated the southernmost

part of the continent from the mainland, in effect forming the Dark Land (Hyarmenor) and the Inner Sea,

linking by straits the previously separated Belegaer and Eastern Sea.

The First Age[edit]

As told in The Silmarillion, most of the events of the First Age took place in the land ofBeleriandand its

environs. Tolkien placed within the bounds of Beleriand the hidden Elven kingdoms ofDoriath,ruled by

KingThingol,andGondolin,founded byTurgon.Also important was the fortress ofNargothrond,founded

by the elfFinrod Felagund.In the Blue Mountains to the east were the great dwarf halls

ofBelegostandNogrod.Beleriand was split into eastern and western sections by the great riverSirion.In

East Beleriand was the riverGelionwith its seven tributaries, which defined the Green-elf kingdom

ofOssiriand.To the north of Beleriand lay the regions ofNevrast,HithlumandDor-lmin,and the IronMountains where Morgoth (Melkor) had his fortress ofAngband.The violent struggles during theWar of

Wrathbetween the Host of the Valar and the armies of Melkor at the end of the First Age brought about the

destruction of Angband, and changed the shape of Middle-earth so that most of Beleriand vanished under

the sea.

ThePelriwere also raised in the early First Age, along with the Enchanted Isles,to make Valinor

essentially impassable save by the fortifiedCalacirya.

The Second and Third Ages[edit]

In the Second and Third Ages, during which Tolkien set the events of theAkallabth,The Hobbit,andThe

Lord of the Rings,the Western regions of Middle-earth contained the lands ofEriador,Gondor,theMisty

Mountains,and the vales of the great riverAnduin.Eriador was bordered by theEred Luinor Blue

Mountains to the west, which bordered the sea and the Grey Havens,also called Mithlond. To the east of

Eriador lay the Misty Mountains, which ran from the far north to Isengard,home of the wizardSaruman,in

the south. The Misty Mountains contained the great dwarvish hall of Khazad-dm orMoria.Within Eriador

lay originally the kingdom ofArnor,founded by men who had fled the destruction of Nmenor. It later split

into the kingdoms ofArthedain,Cardolan,andRhudaur.These kingdoms too had long since passed into

history by the time of The Lord of the Rings. Eriador also containedThe Shire,homeland of theHobbits,

and the nearby settlement of Bree.Rivendellor Imladris, the home of the Half-elvenElrondalso lay in

Eriador, close to the western side of the Misty Mountains.

East of the Mountains lay the land calledRhovanionand the great riverAnduin.On its western side,

between Anduin and the Misty Mountains, lay the Elvish kingdom ofLothlrien,home of the elfGaladriel,

and the forest ofFangorn,home of theEnts.To the east of the Anduin lay the great forest ofMirkwood,

(formerly Greenwood), and further east again were the Lonely Mountain orErebor,home of the

dragonSmaug,the town of Dale, Dorwinion, and theIron Hills.South and East of the Misty Mountains was

the kingdom ofRohan,inhabited by the allies of Gondor, and further south the kingdom ofGondor,founded
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Belfalashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Belfalashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Belfalashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Belfalashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beleriandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beleriandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beleriandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doriathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doriathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doriathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turgonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turgonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turgonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nargothrondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nargothrondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nargothrondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finrod_Felagundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finrod_Felagundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finrod_Felagundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belegosthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belegosthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belegosthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nogrodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nogrodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nogrodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Sirionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Sirionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Sirionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossiriandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossiriandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossiriandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevrasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevrasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevrasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hithlumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hithlumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hithlumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dor-l%C3%B3minhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dor-l%C3%B3minhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dor-l%C3%B3minhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angband_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angband_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angband_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Wrathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Wrathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Wrathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Wrathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%B3rihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%B3rihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%B3rihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchanted_Isleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchanted_Isleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchanted_Isleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aman#Calaciryahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aman#Calaciryahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aman#Calaciryahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=10http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=10http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akallab%C3%AAthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akallab%C3%AAthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akallab%C3%AAthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriadorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriadorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriadorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ered_Luinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ered_Luinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ered_Luinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Havenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Havenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Havenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isengardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isengardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isengardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthedainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthedainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthedainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardolanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardolanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardolanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhudaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhudaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhudaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivendellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivendellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivendellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elrondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elrondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elrondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhovanionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhovanionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhovanionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothl%C3%B3rienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothl%C3%B3rienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothl%C3%B3rienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galadrielhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galadrielhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galadrielhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangornhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangornhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangornhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirkwoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirkwoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirkwoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonely_Mountainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonely_Mountainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonely_Mountainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smaughttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smaughttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smaughttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Hillshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Hillshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Hillshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohan_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohan_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohan_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohan_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Hillshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smaughttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonely_Mountainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirkwoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fangornhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galadrielhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothl%C3%B3rienhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhovanionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elrondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivendellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhudaurhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardolanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthedainhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarumanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isengardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Havenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ered_Luinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anduinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misty_Mountainshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriadorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akallab%C3%AAthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aman#Calaciryahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchanted_Isleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%B3rihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Wrathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Wrathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angband_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dor-l%C3%B3minhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hithlumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevrasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossiriandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Sirionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nogrodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belegosthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finrod_Felagundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nargothrondhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turgonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondolinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doriathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beleriandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Belfalashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Belfalas


9/32

like Arnor by men who escaped the destruction of the island ofNmenor.East of Gondor, and surrounded

by high mountains wasMordor,home ofSauronin his fortress ofBarad-dr.

South of Gondor lay the lands ofHaradandKhand,and the port ofUmbar.In the far East beyond

Rhovanion was the Sea ofRhn,on the eastern side of which dwelt theEasterlingpeoples. The inhabitantsof all these lands were traditionally hostile to Gondor, and allied with Sauron at the time of The Lord of the

Rings.

Maps of Middle-earth[edit]

Tolkien never finalized the geography for the world associated withThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings.

InThe Shaping of Middle-earth,volume IV ofThe History of Middle-earth,Christopher Tolkien published

several remarkable maps, of both the original flat earth and round world, which his father had created in the

latter part of the 1930s.Karen Wynn Fonstaddrew from these maps to develop detailed, but non-canonical,

"whole world maps" reflecting a world consistent with the historical ages depicted in The Silmarillion, The

Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings.

Maps prepared by Christopher Tolkien and J.R.R. Tolkien for the world encompassing The Hobbitand The

Lord of the Ringswere published as foldouts or illustrations in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The

Silmarillion, andUnfinished Tales, as well as in poster format as "A Map of Middle-Earth." Early conceptions

of the maps provided in The Silmarillionand The Lord of the Ringswere included in several volumes,

including "The First Silmarillion Map" inThe Shaping of Middle-earth, "The First Map of the Lord of the

Rings" inThe Treason of Isengard,"The Second Map (West)" and "The Second Map (East)" inThe War of

the Ring,and "The Second Map of Middle-earth west of the Blue Mountains" (also known as "The Second

Silmarillion Map") inThe War of the Jewels.

TheTolkien Estatemaintains the position that the geographical layout of Middle-earth or any other places in

the imaginary universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien was the intellectual property of J.R.R. Tolkien and

subsequently is that of his heirs. The Tolkien Estate has therefore restricted the publishing of maps to those

authorized by the Estate and legally pursues anyone who publishes any maps, including self-made works,

on the Internet.[21]

Correspondence with the geography of Earth[edit]

Tolkien described the region in which the Hobbits lived as "the North-West of the Old World, east of the

Sea",[19]which indicates a connection to England and the north-western region of Europe (theOld World).

However, as he noted in private letters, the geographies do not match, and he did not consciously make

them match when he was writing:

"As for the shape of the world of the Third Age, I am afraid that was devised 'dramatically' rather than

geologically, or paleontologically."[22]

"I am historically minded. Middle-earth is not an imaginary world. The name is the modern form (appearing

in the 13th century) of midden-erd>middel-erd, an ancient name for the oikoumene, the abiding place of

Men, the objectively real world, in use specifically opposed to imaginary worlds (as Fairyland) or unseen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BAmenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BAmenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BAmenorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barad-d%C3%BBrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barad-d%C3%BBrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barad-d%C3%BBrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haradhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haradhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haradhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khand_(Middle-earth)#Khandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khand_(Middle-earth)#Khandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khand_(Middle-earth)#Khandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%BBnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%BBnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%BBnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterlinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterlinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterlinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shaping_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shaping_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shaping_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wynn_Fonstadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wynn_Fonstadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wynn_Fonstadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Map_of_Middle-Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Map_of_Middle-Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Map_of_Middle-Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Jewelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Jewelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Jewelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien_Estatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien_Estatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien_Estatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-LOTR2-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-LOTR2-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-LOTR2-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-LOTR2-19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien_Estatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Jewelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Map_of_Middle-Earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Wynn_Fonstadhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shaping_of_Middle-earthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Ringshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easterlinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rh%C3%BBnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khand_(Middle-earth)#Khandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haradhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barad-d%C3%BBrhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BAmenor


10/32

worlds (as Heaven or Hell). The theatre of my tale is this earth, the one in which we now live, but the

historical period is imaginary. The essentials of that abiding place are all there (at any rate for inhabitants of

N.W. Europe), so naturally it feels familiar, even if a little glorified by enchantment of distance in

time.(Letters, no. 183)[23]

"...if it were 'history', it would be difficult to fit the lands and events (or 'cultures') into such evidence as we

possess, archaeological or geological, concerning the nearer or remoter part of what is now called Europe;

though the Shire, for instance, is expressly stated to have been in this region...I hope the, evidently long but

undefined gap* in time between the Fall of Barad-dr and our Days is sufficient for 'literary credibility', even

for readers acquainted with what is known as 'pre-history'. I have, I suppose, constructed an imaginary time,

but kept my feet on my own mother-earth for place. I prefer that to the contemporary mode of seeking

remote globes in 'space'. However curious, they are alien, and not loveable with the love of blood-

kin...(Letters, no. 211)

In another letter, Tolkien made correspondences in latitude (notequations) between Europe and Middle-

earth:

"The action of the story takes place in the North-west of 'Middle-earth', equivalent in latitude to the

coastlands of Europe and the north shores of the Mediterranean. ... If Hobbiton and Rivendell are taken (as

intended) to be at about the latitude of Oxford, thenMinas Tirith,600 miles south, is at about the latitude of

Florence. The Mouths of Anduin and the ancient city ofPelargirare at about the latitude of ancient Troy."[24]

He did confirm, however, that theShire,the land of hisHobbitheroes, was based onEngland:

"'The Shire' is based on rural England and not any other country in the world... "[25]

In the Prologue to The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien writes: "Those days, the Third Age of Middle-earth, are

now long past, and the shape of all lands has been changed..."

The Appendices make several references in both history and etymology of topics 'now' (in modern English

languages) and 'then' (ancient languages);

The year no doubt was of the same length, [ the footnote here reads: 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46

seconds.] for long ago as those times are now reckoned in years and lives of men, they were not very

remote according to the memory of the Earth.[26]

Nodded to both in Appendices and Silmarillion (with supporting information within the HoME series) there

are constellations and stars that correspond to the astronomy seen in the northern hemisphere of Earth,

including references to the Sun, the Moon, Orion (and his belt), Ursa Major and other planets (described as

"stars"; thus Carnil is "Mars").[27][28]

History[edit]

Main article:History of Arda

Main article:Timeline of Arda
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minas_Tirithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minas_Tirithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minas_Tirithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ardahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ardahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ardahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Ardahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Ardahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Ardahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Ardahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ardahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelargirhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minas_Tirithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth#cite_note-23


11/32

InThe Silmarillionthe history of Arda is divided into four great time periods, known as the Ainulindal,

theYears of the Lamps,theYears of the Trees(the Valian years) and theYears of the Sun.In Middle-earth

recorded history did not begin until theFirst Ageand theAwakening of the Elvesduring the Years of the

Trees - the time prior to that is simply known as the Beginning of Days. During the First Age the awakening

of Men coincided with the first rising of the Sun and the beginning of The Years of the Sun, which have

lasted from the First Age, through the Second, Third andFourth Agesto the present day.

Ainulindal[edit]

Main article:Ainulindal

In Tolkien's universe,Godis calledEru Ilvatar.Tolkien created acosmogonyin which the genesis of the

world was musical: in the beginning, Ilvatar created spirits named theAinurand taught them to make

music. After the Ainur had become proficient in their skills, Ilvatar commanded them to make a great music

based on a theme of his own design. The most powerful Ainu,Melkor(later called Morgothor "Dark Enemy"by the Elves), disrupted the theme. In response, Ilvatar introduced new themes that enhanced the music

beyond the comprehension of the Ainur. The foundation of Tolkien's creation is that the movements of their

song, and the conflict in themes between Melkor and Ilvatar, laid the seeds of much of the history of the

as-yet-unmade universe and the people who were to dwell therein.

Then Ilvatar stopped the music and revealed its meaning to the Ainur through a vision. Moved, many of

the Ainur felt a compelling urge to experience its events directly. Ilvatar therefore created E, the universe

itself, and some of the Ainur went into the universe to share in its experience. But upon arriving in E, the

Ainur found that it was shapeless because they had entered at the beginning of time. The Ainur undertook

great labours in these unnamed "ages of the stars", in which they shaped the universe and filled it with

many things far beyond the reach of Men.[citation needed]

The Beginning of Days[edit]

In time, however, the Ainur formed Arda, the future abiding place of theChildren of Ilvatar:Elves and

Men.Melkorand his followers entered E as well, and they set about ruining and undoing whatever the

others did. The fifteen most powerful Ainur are called the Valar;Melkor was the most powerful,

butManwwas the leader. Each of the Valar was attracted to a particular aspect of the world that became

the focus of their powers. Melkor was drawn to terrible extremes and violence bitter cold, scorching

heat,earthquakes,rendings, breakings, utter darkness, burning light etc. His power was so great that at first

the Valar were unable to restrain him, until the ValaTulkasentered E and tipped the balance. Driven out

by Tulkas, Melkor brooded in the darkness at the outer reaches of Arda. The Valar settled in Arda to watch

over it and help prepare it for the awakening of the Children.

TheYears of the Lampsbegan shortly after the Valar finished their labours in shaping Arda. Arda began as

a single flat world and the Valar created two lamps to illuminate it, Illuin and Ormal. In the middle, where the

light of the lamps mingled, the Valar dwelt at the island ofAlmaren.This period, known as the Spring of

Arda, was a time when the Valar had ordered the World as they wished and rested upon Almaren, and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainulindal%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainulindal%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainulindal%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Treeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Treeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Treeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Sunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Sunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Sunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakening_of_the_Elveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakening_of_the_Elveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakening_of_the_Elveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=14http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=14http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainulindal%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainulindal%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainulindal%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eru_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eru_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eru_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmogonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmogonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmogonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainu_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainu_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainu_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=15http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=15http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manw%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manw%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manw%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulkashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulkashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulkashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almarenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almarenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almarenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almarenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulkashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manw%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vala_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgothhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainu_(Middle-earth)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmogonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eru_Il%C3%BAvatarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainulindal%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Middle-earth&action=edit&section=14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awakening_of_the_Elveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Sunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Treeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_of_the_Lampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ainulindal%C3%ABhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillion


12/32

Melkor lurked beyond theWalls of Night.During this time animals first appeared, and forests started to

grow. The Spring was interrupted when Melkor returned to Arda, and ended completely when he destroyed

theLamps of the Valar.Melkor's destruction of the two Lamps marked the end of the Years of the Lamps.

TheYears of the Treesbegan after Melkor's destruction of the two lamps, when the Valar retreated to theextreme western regions of Arda, where the ValaYavannamade theTwo

TreesnamedTelperionandLaurelinto give light to their new homeland ofValinorin the land of Aman. The

Trees illuminated Aman, leaving the rest of Arda (in what is now Middle-earth) in darkness, illuminated only

by the stars.

The First Age[edit]

Main article:First Age

The First Age in Tolkien's history of Middle-earth began when theElves awokebeside LakeCuivinenin

the east of Endor (Middle-earth). The Elves were soon approached by the Valar, who requested that they

come to Aman to live beside them. Many of the Elves were persuaded to undertake theGreat

Journeywestwards towards Aman, but not all of them completed the journey (seeSundering of the Elves).

The Valar had imprisoned Melkor, but he appeared to repent and was released on parole. He sowed great

discord among the Elves and stirred up rivalry between the Elven princes FanorandFingolfin.He then

slew their father, KingFinw,destroyed theTwo Treesthemselves with the a

Date post:	04-Jun-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	brkica2011
View:	216 times
Download:	0 times

Middle earth.docx

Documents