Whether it’s a massive war or simply a hobbit drinking tea,
everything in Middle-earth has a lot of complex history behind it. We’re taking a look at the
world of J.R.R. Tolkien and explaining the long and lengthy history of Middle-earth.
Tolkien's world begins with the events of the Ainulindalë, or the Music of the Ainur . The
Ainur are a race of angelic spirits that are the offspring of the thought of Ilúvatar,
the creator and chief being in Tolkien's world. The Ainur are known for their singing,
although initially they only sing individually.
Eventually, Ilúvatar informs the Ainur that he wants them to compose a "Great Music" with Him.
The song consists of three themes. But while the host sings together,
one of the Ainur named Melkor repeatedly attempts to take over the music and lead it himself.
He succeeds in causing chaos at first, but his creator ultimately
weaves that chaos into His greater song, defeating Melkor's ambitions.
When the song ends, Ilúvatar reveals a vision to the Ainur.
He shows them that the song was the universe and its history, which he then brings into being.
Many of them enter into the new creation and begin shaping it into the vision Ilúvatar showed them.
They focus, in particular, on a specific part of the world known
as Arda, effectively becoming angelic shapers and stewards of the Earth.
Thirteen of these spirits become known as the Valar, the great Powers of Arda. The rest remain
lesser yet still very powerful beings called the Maiar. Once the Valar and Maiar arrive in Arda,
they begin to shape it. They build mountains, fill lakes, invent flora, and generally
create the world. However, Melkor arrives and proceeds to meddle in the affairs of the Valar.
When he arrives in Arda, Melkor claims lordship of the entire region and begins to spitefully undo
all of the Valar's work. This leads to the first great war between the powers,
during which many of the Maiar join both sides of the conflict. The war only ends
after a hulking Ainur named Tulkas helps to overthrow Melkor. As a result of the battle,
Tulkas becomes the fourteenth Valar. Melkor is forced to flee, and ultimately peace is restored.
After this, the Valar settle down in the middle of Arda, which becomes known as Middle-earth.
There they continue to build the world. In order to provide light for their work, a Valar named
Aulë sets up two great pillars in the northern and southern regions of the continent. They're taller
than mountains, and each one is equipped with a massive lamp that helps illuminate the world.
Countless years of worldbuilding go by until one day Melkor returns,
and secretly attacks Middle-earth. Rather than wage an all-out war, which he is sure to lose,
Melkor sneaks into Arda and breaks the two pillars that the lamps sit upon.
This attack shatters the surface of the Earth, breaking it into multiple continents.
The destruction and chaos it causes forces a Valar named Yavanna to put their entire creation into
a deep sleep. Then the Valar flee Middle-earth to the continent Aman far in the west of Arda.
The continent of Aman is also known as the Blessed Realm. The Valar make their home there in the land
of Valinor, and remain there for the rest of history. In fact, when Frodo and Bilbo
sail into the west at the end of The Return of the King, their ship is heading for Valinor.
Although at this point, this ancient land has become extremely difficult to reach.
Once the Valar and their people arrive in Aman,
they create giant mountain ranges to protect them from Melkor. When Yavanna arrives in Valinor,
she creates a source of light for her people. This time, she brings two massive,
glorious and glowing trees into being. Each take turns illuminating the continent.
The period that follows is very long and undefined.
During this time, the Valar work on their new home,
and Melkor continues to plot and scheme in Middle-earth. Also, another of the Valar,
named Varda, hangs stars in the sky in order to light the path for some long-awaited guests.
Back during the creation of the world, Ilúvatar explained to the Ainur that his "children" would
arrive on the scene at an undisclosed time. These children: Elves and men, would be autonomous and
independent of the greater spirits, and they'd play a primary part in the story of the world.
But over time, Aulë becomes impatient and decides to create his own children. While he ultimately
repents of his hastiness, Ilúvatar decides to adopt Aulë's new creations, thus bringing the
race of dwarves into existence. However, Ilúvatar puts them to sleep until his own children awaken.
At some point after this event, the Valar learn that the elves have finally awoken on
Middle-earth. They decide that they need to put a stop to Melkor before
the children of Ilúvatar are caught up in another cataclysmic event. Unfortunately,
they’re too late, and many elves are captured by Melkor and warped into the race of the orcs.
With so much at stake, the Valar go to war yet again, this time defeating Melkor and
bringing him back to Valinor as a prisoner. They then invite the elves to come and live
with them in the Blessed Realm, and many of them accept the invitation. Those that remain behind
set up homes and kingdoms under the stars in Middle-earth. Three ages follow during which
Melkor is held captive, and the elves and Valar live in blissful peace in and around Valinor.
During the long ages known as the Years of the Trees, an elf named Fëanor creates three gems
called the Silmarils. These contain some of the light of the two trees of Valinor,
and they're considered the greatest jewels in the world. Around this time,
Melkor is released and given a chance at redemption. But instead of reforming,
he secretly whispers lies and causes dissension among the elves in Valinor. Eventually,
he recruits a monstrous spider-spirit named Ungoliant, who sucks the life out of the
two trees. Melkor and Ungoliant then steal the Silmarils and return to Middle-earth.
Against the commands of the Valar, Fëanor leads his people, known as the Noldor,
out of Valinor in pursuit of Melkor. Fëanor and his people begin to refer to the fallen
Ainur as Morgoth, and from that point on, that's how Middle-earth comes to know him.
Fëanor wins several victories against Morgoth's gathered armies. However, Fëanor
dies early on in the fighting, and his people are unable to completely conquer their enemy.
Instead, they settle down for a long struggle that lasts for centuries.
Though betrayed by the elves and Morgoth, the Valar forever play the role of guardians and
stewards. When the rebellious Noldorin elves arrive on Middle-earth’s starlit shores,
the Valar show pity on them by hanging the sun and the moon in the sky to illuminate their path.
Though there are some stories that imply that the beginning of the First Age overlaps with the Years
of the Trees, the exact timeline for the First Age in Tolkien’s writing are difficult to pin down.
It’s likely that this period of Middle-earth’s history begins here. Because, it’s at this point
in the history that coincides with the awakening of the second set of Ilúvatar's children: Men.
The First Age ends nearly six centuries later. This epic period of time involves
a protracted series of wars that are far too complicated to lay out in this video.
It’s worth noting though that for a time the elves gain the upper hand and set up a centuries-long
siege of Morgoth's main fortress of Angband. However, after several hundred years, Morgoth's
armies manage to break out of the siege and win several victories that leave the elves reeling.
It’s at this point that the Valar return to Middle-earth,
coming to the aid of the elves in the War of Wrath. This catastrophic conflict ends
with Morgoth's complete defeat and banishment into the Timeless Void. Although it comes at
the cost of yet again damaging the world and flooding the eastern portion of the continent.
After the cataclysmic events at the end of the First Age,
the Valar and many of the elves head back to Valinor, while other elves, along with men,
dwarves, and a variety of evil creatures, make their way east, farther into Middle-earth.
It's at this point that the map begins to look much closer to the one from The Lord of the Rings.
The primary exception is that the Valar create an island between Valinor and Middle-earth
for the favored Númenorean race of men to dwell on. On the mainland of Middle-earth,
several elven kingdoms are eventually established, including Elrond Half-elven’s home of Rivendell.
While Morgoth is banished at this point, many of his servants are still at large,
and they continue to cause trouble as the Second Age unfolds. Most of the trouble ultimately comes
from his lieutenant, a character that Tolkien fans will recognize: The Dark Lord, Sauron.
Early in the age, Sauron establishes himself at Mordor and then tries to
seduce the elves into trusting him. He helps them forge rings of power and
ultimately attempts to control them by creating the One Ring to rule them all.
While his plan backfires and the elves hide their rings, Sauron ends up getting his way
by using brute force. He conquers most of Middle-earth and is poised
to finally control the entire continent when he runs into unexpected resistance.
Sauron's conquest of Middle-earth only stops when the Númenóreans arrive on the mainland with
a massive army. The Dark Lord surrenders himself without a fight, and he's taken back to Númenor.
There, he convinces the Númenórean king to turn on the Valar and attack the Blessed Realm in an
attempt to gain immortality. See, though the humans of the Second Age live long lives,
they are not immortal like the other children of Ilúvatar, the elves.
The Valar, fatigued by eons of fighting, turn to their creator. Ilúvatar, ever watchful,
is aware of the conflict that has plagued his creation, and decides to intervene.
He sinks the entire island of Númenor in an Atlantis-like catastrophe.
In addition, the world changes from flat to round, and the Blessed Realm becomes
exclusively accessible by a magical path that only the elves can find.
In the meantime, a small group of survivors known as "the Faithful"
escape back to the mainland of Middle-earth. Once they're there,
the faithful Númenóreans set up the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. It doesn't take long though
before Sauron reappears on the scene and begins causing trouble yet again.
As the Second Age comes to an end, the Númenórean kingdoms ally with
the elves of Middle-earth and form the "Last Alliance of Elves and Men."
Fans of Peter Jackson's trilogy will recognize this, as it's basically the opening scene
from The Fellowship of the Ring. With Sauron defeated, peace comes to Middle-earth for a time.
The first major defeat of Sauron marks the end of the Second Age. The 3000-year-long Third Age that
follows is mainly defined by the two Númenórean kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. While they remain
strong for a time, eventually Arnor is defeated by the Witch-king of Angmar. This is the same
Witch-king that Eowyn kills centuries later on Pelennor Fields in the battle for Minas Tirith.
"I am no man."
Gondor endures, but it slowly weakens through invasions, civil wars, and plagues.
Around 1000 years into the age, the five wizards also arrive on the scene and begin
wandering about, helping the Free Peoples. They are specifically sent to counter Sauron,
who's been slowly recuperating his power.
During the second half of the age, the Shire is colonized by hobbits,
and Gollum murderously claims the One Ring before he heads off to the roots of the Misty Mountains.
The elves and dwarves that remain in Middle-earth are fairly quiet during
this time, which is chiefly marked by the slow weakening of their political power.
The dwarves do awaken the Balrog in Moria partway through the age.
And they also win a war with the goblins of the Misty Mountains which fans can
see in The Battle of the Five Armies, the third part of The Hobbit trilogy.
As the Third Age winds down, it finally leads us to the events of The Hobbit
and The Lord of the Rings. Both tales happen within a century of one another,
and begin to escalate quickly when Bilbo finds the One Ring during the events of The Hobbit.
While Bilbo fights Smaug at the Lonely Mountain, Sauron is driven out of Mirkwood where he'd taken
up a temporary residence, and flees back to Mordor. This is followed by the Battle of
the Five Armies, where the evil forces in the northern regions of Middle-earth are crushed.
Then begins The Lord of the Rings, during which the wizard Gandalf shepherds the Free
Peoples of Middle-earth through the War of the Ring. The forces of the West, chiefly populated
by men from the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan, resist the Dark Lord and the corrupted wizard
Saruman. They succeed long enough for Frodo the hobbit, along with his servant Samwise,
to reach the Cracks of Doom and destroy the One Ring. Shortly thereafter, Aragorn son of Arathorn
takes his place as the rightful and returned king of the united kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.
"This day does not belong to one man, but to all. Let us together rebuild this world."
Once the dramatic events of the War of the Ring officially wrap up,
the Third Age is nearly over. In fact, less than three years after the ring is destroyed,
Frodo, Bilbo, and the bearers of the three elven rings: Gandalf, Galadriel,
and Elrond, set sail for the Blessed Realm. This marks the beginning of the Fourth Age.
While little is known about this last age of Tolkien's writings, it's reported that Aragorn
continues to rule for over a century. Once he dies, his wife Arwen Evenstar also passes away
in grief. Samwise serves seven terms as the mayor of Michel Delving, the largest town in the Shire.
Merry and Pippin both become the heads of their extended hobbit families.
It's rumored that eventually Legolas sets sail for the west.
His traveling companion? Gimli, the only dwarf to ever retire to the Blessed Lands.
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