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A map of Middle Earth in the Third Age
Middle-earth (Q. Endor) was a large continent of Arda, situated between Aman to the West (across Belegaer), and the Land of the Sun to the East (across the East Sea).
It is here that most of the story of Arda takes place, and it was where the Children of Ilúvatar; the Elves and Men, along with the Dwarves, came into being. Here, too, were bred the Uvanimar or "monsters" of the Dark Lords.
History[]
Middle-earth is the middle continent, set between Valinor to the West and The Lands of the Sun to the East. It is home to multiple races, creatures and environments.
Middle Earth in the First Age
Dominion over Middle-earth, which contains multiple realms, was contested by the Dark Lords - Morgoth, and later his minion Sauron - who tried to reign over its entirety. They were resisted by the Free People of Middle-earth - Elves, Men and Dwarves.
Middle Earth's geography had changed over its long history: The World of Arda was originally a concentric ring surround the land of the Valar, but was wrecked in the first, metaphysical war with Morgoth and reshaped. However, in continuing wars with Morgoth, natural calamities changed the form of its shorelines somewhat, and Morgoth created Mordor around this time, as well.
By the end of the First Age, its North-western region of Beleriand was sunk with the exception of a few islands and the lands of Lindon. The vast, inland sea of Helcar was drained in the process, and the shorelines of the Falas and near Harad changed. Another change happened in the late second age with the fall of the island of Numenore, which caused the sea to retreat south at the Ethir Anduin, while a portion of Lindon was sunk.
Regions and notable locations[]
- Forodwaith
- Beleriand (deluged)
- Eriador
- Rhovanion
- Rhûn
- Enedhwaith
- Anorien and Ithilien
- Falas
- Mordor
- Harad
Types of People[]
They were divided in two to groups: the Free people of Middle-earth and the Uvanimor, or monsters that served Sauron. Operating in Middle Earth were also angelic Maiar spirits in corporeal form, largely known as wizards. The Dark Lord Sauron was himself of this order of being, but so was the Balrog of Moria.
The Free People were roughly divided into three races: Men, Elves and Dwarves. The Dwarves were divided into Seven Houses, chief among them Durin's Folk. while the Elves were roughly divided into High Elves (who returned from Valinor to fight the Dark Lord), Middle Elves, Wood-Elves and Wild-Elves.
Men were divided into the Men of the West (who came from Numenor), Northmen of Rhovanion, and Men of Darkness. The Men of Darkness included the Easterlings and Haradrim, and the Gwathuirim of Eriador, Enedhwaith and Anorien. The Northmen, meanwhile, encompassed the people of Rhovanion, including the Beornings and the ancestors of the Rohirrim.
Also descended from the Northmen were the Halflings or Hobbits, who included three tribes: Fallohide, Harfoot and Stoor. Some of the latter group stayed in the Wilderland, becoming the Riverfolk, while the other traveled to Eriador and mostly settled in The Shire, where they became divided anew into Tooks (living around Tuckborough), Brandybucks (living in Buckland), Baggins and other families.
Another race of Middle Earth includes the Ents, which were tree-like giants. They lived in Beleriand and in the wide forestlands of Eriador and Enedwaith before their lands were reduced to Fangorn and the Brown Lands. The Misty Mountains were also home to Stone Giants and maritime creatures like The Watcher and Sea Serpents.
Fighting against the Free People were the Uvanimor, the monsters of the Dark Lord: Orcs and Goblins (created from and based on the likeness of Elves), Trolls (based on Ents), Wargs (based on Hounds) and Fell Beasts (based on Eagles). Other creatures in service of the Dark Lords were Dragons, giant Bats and men and Dwarves turned to evil.