J.R.R. Tolkien created an enormous and unbelievable world that spans over multiple beautifully written books with lore that spills out of the pages at times. These books paved the way in which for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Amazon’s ongoing The Rings of Power.
Essentially the most famous Middle-earth narrative is Frodo’s trip as portrayed within the critically acclaimed The Lord of the Rings trilogy, however the renowned writer wrote dozens more stories that happen at various stages within the history of his made-up world, chronicled in letters and the Silmarillion book. Tolkien’s timeline, which served as the idea for The Lord of the Rings adaptations, was divided into Ages.
Days Before Days
Starting on the very starting, the Valar and Maiar arrived within the early times of Arda, which Eru Iluvatar created, to mold the world for the Children of Iluvatar, Elves and Men.
But Melkor (later called Morgoth) rebelled and sought power, which caused chaos. Melkor is the biblical equivalent of the devil in Tolkien’s works, referenced because the corrupted Valar who seeks his own realm and power.
The conflicts between Melkor and the Valar resulted in changes to the landmasses and oceans and the last word division of Middle-earth into its own continent.
The traditional conflict between creation and destruction established the muse of Middle-earth’s history prior to the Elves’ awakening and the world’s official eras.
Age Of The Trees
The primary Elves to awaken on this continent marked the start of the Ages of Middle-earth. Over the course of the roughly 5,000 years that made up the First Age, loads happened.
Again, there are no current The Lord of the Rings movies that happen on this era, but The Rings of Power regularly alludes to those occasions. It was at the moment that the Elf Fëanor constructed the Silmarils and Melkor, later often known as Morgoth, got here to power and faced his fellow Valar in battle.
The Years of the Trees, when the world’s light sprang from two magnificent trees in Valinor, and the Years of the Sun, which followed the creation of the sun and moon, comprise the First Age.
First Age
Eru Iluvatar woke up the primary Elves, Ents, and the Fathers of the Dwarves, while Varda, one in all the Valar, formed the celebrities within the early eras of Arda.
The primary Orcs were created when Melkor corrupted the Elves within the Undying Lands, or Valinor, the land of the Valar. Within the meantime, Khazad-dum, which might later change into Moria, was established as a kingdom by Durin.
Melkor was eventually captured by the Valar after they besieged Utumno, his stronghold; nonetheless, his servant Sauron endured in his sinister work by producing additional Orcs and Trolls.
During this time, vital characters akin to Galadriel were born, and the fabled Elven smith Feanor created the Silmarils, three potent jewels that Melkor later stole which caused havoc. The Sun and Moon were created, and a brand new era on Middle-earth began when Melkor and Ungoliant destroyed the Two Trees of Valinor.
Fëanor guarded the Silmarils much more enviously after Morgoth felled these trees. Fëanor took his people, the Noldor, which included Galadriel’s relatives, to Middle-earth to get well the Silmarils after the Dark Lord had taken them.
Feanor’s fruitless attempts to retrieve his Silmarils resulted in innumerable deaths and the exile of the Noldor from Middle-earth. By now, Men had woke up in Middle-earth and the Years of the Sun had begun.
The following several millennia are spent in constant battle with Morgoth and his servant, Sauron, until the half-elf Earendil and his spouse, Elwing, embark on a heroic mission to ask the Valar for assistance. The Valar were moved by the union of men and elves and consented to help, locking Morgoth away.
Second Age
A vital turning point in Middle-earth’s history was the founding of the Grey Havens early within the Second Age. The mighty human kingdom of Numenor was soon established by the Edain on an island that the Valar had given them.
The old lieutenant of Morgoth, Sauron, reappeared and began his work within the shadows over the dominion of all life in Middle-earth. Sauron covertly created the One Ring to manage the Nineteen Rings of Power, which he crafted via his manipulation of Celebrimbor and the Elves of Eregion. Elrond established Rivendell in the course of the catastrophic conflict that destroyed Eregion.
As Sauron’s evil influence grew, the Ringwraiths, also often known as the Nazgul, emerged. Numenor prolonged its dominion over Middle-earth, however it was ultimately destroyed when Sauron tricked King Ar-Pharazon into assaulting the Undying Lands.
The Last Alliance of Elves and Men was created to fight Sauron, and the survivors created the realms of Gondor and Arnor. Although Isildur cut the One Ring out of the Dark Lord’s hand, his failure to destroy it signaled the tip of the Second Age and paved the way in which for more conflicts in Middle-earth.
Third Age
The One Ring is lost for millennia, concealed in a river, following Isildur’s ambush and death near the Anduin River. The Valar then sent five Wizards, including Saruman and Gandalf, to Middle-earth to combat Sauron’s increasing might.
The Hobbit’s forefathers, the Harfoots, arrive in Eriador and eventually colonize the Shire. A vital event within the third age is the Balrog, who’s woke up by the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, now often known as the mines of Moria, which caused the downfall of the dominion.
After Sauron resurfaces because the Necromancer, Sméagol finds the One Ring, murders his cousin Deagol, and transforms into Gollum. Later, in response to the Hobbit books, Erebor is taken over by Smaug the dragon.
The White Council expels Sauron from Dol Guldur in The Hobbit, and Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield got down to get well the Dwarven riches of Erebor.
During a game of riddles with Gollum, Bilbo discovers the One Ring, which sets off a series of events that ends with the Battle of the Five Armies. The events of The Lord of the Rings begin when Bilbo gives the Ring to his nephew Frodo years later.
Under Gandalf’s leadership, Frodo sets out on a quest to destroy the Ring, encountering vital allies like Aragorn and several other dangers on his way. After the Fellowship of the Ring is established, it quickly disintegrates, leading to epic conflicts like Saruman’s defeat and Sauron’s downfall.
Ultimately, Aragorn ascends the throne, and Frodo leaves for the Undying Lands with Gandalf and other friends after destroying the Ring.
Fourth Age
The Fourth Age, a period of peace and prosperity, begins with Sauron’s defeat and the One Ring’s destruction.
Together together with his queen Arwen, Aragorn, now King Elessar, combines Arnor and Gondor and promotes trade and culture across the Reunited Kingdom.
Because the Elves slowly leave for the Undying Lands, their power wanes and the enchantment of past eras dwindles.
While the Dunedain, under the leadership of the Rangers of the North, proceed to defend the realm, Gimli and Legolas aid in fortifying the bonds between Elves and Dwarves.
Middle-earth transitions from its magical past right into a more mundane world as time goes on and Aragorn’s rule ends. Human issues take precedence, and the mythic elements of the past steadily disappear.
Later Ages
The Fifth Age follows the Fourth Age, but little is understood about it as most records have faded. It is mostly thought to be a time when Men proceed to dominate Middle-earth, with the stories of the Elves and great heroes becoming myths.
The Sixth Age is similarly vague intimately, often seen as an extension of the Fifth Age, where humanity further establishes itself while the influence of other races, like Dwarves and Elves, diminishes much more.
Dagor Dagorath, or the Battle of Battles, is a prophetic event that marks the tip of the world. It foretells a final confrontation between good and evil, where the remaining forces of sunshine, led by Eru Iluvatar and the Valar, will defeat Morgoth, ensuring the restoration of the world.
This climactic battle is seen as a rebirth for the universe, where creation begins anew.
