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[[Image:Middle-earth.jpg|right|thumb|A map of the north-western part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age.|300px]]

[[Image:Middle-earth.jpg|right|thumb|A map of the north-western part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age.|300px]]

'''Middle-earth''' is a fictional fantasy world invented by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]. It is the setting of several of the stories written by him, such as ''[[The Hobbit]]'' or ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Although Middle-earth is only one continent in Tolkien's world, it is often used for the whole fictional world and all stories Tolkien invented for it.

'''Middle-earth''' is a fictional fantasy world invented by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]. It is the setting of several of the stories written by him, such as ''[[The Hobbit]]'' or ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Although Middle-earth is only one continent in Tolkien's world, it is often used for the whole fictional universe and all stories Tolkien invented for it.

The name was derived from [[Midgard]]<ref>http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/norse/articles.html</ref>, the "Middle World" of Norse Mythology inhabited by people and located underneath Asgard (Norse Heaven) and above Hel (The Norse spelt Hell with one L).  

The world of Middle-earth is supposed to be a long gone mythological time of our earth. The continent Middle-earth corresponds roughly to the [[Eurasia]]n landmass, "east of the Sea.", although the shape of the lands have changed since then.  

Tolkien did not create another Earth for his novels, although the shape of our lands have changed since the Third Age.  Middle-earth corresponds to the [[Eurasian]] land mass, "east of the Sea." ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' tells of how the [[Noldor]], immortal [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] from the West, invade Middle-earth on a quest for three [[Silmaril]]s stolen by [[Morgoth]].  There they find the younger race of mortal Men, whose souls are not bound to Arda but depart beyond the circles of the world upon death.

The name "Middle-earth" was derived from [[Midgard]]<ref>http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/norse/articles.html</ref>, the "Middle World" of [[Norse mythology]] inhabited by humans, and located underneath Asgard, home of the gods, and above Hel, the underworld.  

The First Age of Middle-earth ended with the defeat of the Vala Morgoth, who was cast into oblivion. However, in the Second Age, a [[Ainu (Middle-earth)|Maia]] named [[Sauron]], who was the servant of Morgoth, rose to great power and took his master's place as the malign spirit opposed to everything good in Middle-earth. He was defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men at the foot of [[Mount Doom]], and his great [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|Ruling Ring]] was taken from him by [[Isildur]] heir of [[Elendil]]. Sauron's body was slain and his vanquished spirit fled into the wilderness, which ushered in the Third Age. However in doing so the shape of the world was forever changed, the island of [[Númenor]] destroyed and the road to [[Valinor]] hidden.

In the east was the continent Middle-earth, and in the west the island Valinor, land of the Valar. There they created the Two Trees, the silver Telperion and the golden Laurelin, who alternated to light the night and day; this began the [[First Age (Middle-earth)|First Age (of the Trees)]]. In the time after this the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] and [[Dwarves (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]] awoke in Middle-earth. The Valar invited the Elves, and some of them came to Valinor. But [[Morgoth]] and the spider Ungoliant killed the Two Trees, and stole the [[Silmaril]] jewels from the [[Noldor]] elves. From the remains of the Trees the Valar created the Sun and the Moon, which marked the begin of the second part of the First Age, the [[First Age (Middle-earth)|First Age of the Sun]].

 

In the First Age of the Sun the Noldor return to Middle-earth to retake the Silmarils and wage war against Morgoth. The still young peoples of Men arrive in the west of Middle-earth, and become involved. The Age ended when the Valar rose against Morgoth in the ''War of Wrath'', which resulted in the final imprisonment of Morgoth and the destruction of [[Beleriand]]. The story of the First Age and the Silmarils are told in the ''[[Silmarillion|Quenta Silmarillion]]''.

 

In the Second Age, the [[Ainu (Middle-earth)|Maia]] [[Sauron]], who had been the servant of Morgoth, rose to great power and took his master's place as the malign spirit opposed to everything good in Middle-earth.  

Sauron was defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men at the foot of [[Mount Doom]], and his great [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|Ruling Ring]] was taken from him by [[Isildur]] heir of [[Elendil]]. Sauron's body was slain and his vanquished spirit fled into the wilderness, which ushered in the Third Age.

 

The stories of the end of the Third Age are told in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' (T.A. 2941) and the ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (T.A. 3001-3021).

== Chronology ==

== Chronology ==