Changes

=== Second Age ===

=== Second Age ===

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.  

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. The [[Rings of Power]] were forged by the Elves and Sauron.  

When the King of [[Númenor]], though Sauron's counsel, rose to make war on Valinor the shape of the world was forever changed, the island of Númenor destroyed and the road to Valinor hidden.  

When the King of [[Númenor]], though Sauron's counsel, rose to make war on Valinor the shape of the world was forever changed, the island of Númenor destroyed and the road to Valinor hidden. The survivors of Númenor loyal to the West, the "Faithful" or ''Elendili'' ([[Quenya]] "Elf-friends") led by [[Elendil]], fled to Middle-earth where they founded the realms [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]].

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.

High King Gil-galad of the [[Noldor]] and King Elendil of the Dúnedain formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men to fight Sauron. At the end of the ''War of the Last Alliance'', Sauron was defeated at the foot of [[Mount Doom]], and his great [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|Ring]] was cut from his hand by [[Isildur]], son of Elendil. Sauron's body was slain and his vanquished spirit fled into the wilderness, which ushered in the Third Age.

=== Third Age ===

=== Third Age ===

In the Third Age the Realms of Men go into decline after a time of prosperity, and Sauron rises to power once more. The events culminate in the ''War of the Ring'' at the end of the 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).

At the beginning of the Age the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] was lost when Isildur was killed by orcs. In the Third Age the Realms of Men went into decline after a time of prosperity, and Sauron rose to power once more. The events culminated in the ''War of the Ring'' at the end of the 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 ==

The history of the Middle-earth world spans thousands of years. Sometimes, in the wake of great historical events, a new ''Age'' is begun, again starting with the year 1.

The history of the Middle-earth world spans thousands of years. Sometimes, in the wake of great historical events, a new ''Age'' is begun, again starting with the year 1.

* '''First Age''': The First Age can be further divided, into the "First Age of the Trees" an the "First Age of the Sun"; referring to simply the "First Age" often means the "First Age of the Sun".  

* '''First Age''': The First Age can be further divided, into the "First Age of the Trees" and the "First Age of the Sun"; referring to simply the "First Age" often means the "First Age of the Sun".  

** ''First Age of the Trees'': The long period beginning at the creation of the Two Trees, containing the Awakening of the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] and the [[Dwarves (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]], and ending with the destruction of the Two Trees.

** ''First Age of the Trees'': The long period beginning at the creation of the Two Trees, containing the Awakening of the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] and the [[Dwarves (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]], and ending with the destruction of the Two Trees.

** ''First Age of the Sun'' (590 years): Begins with the creation of the Sun and Moon, and ends with the ''War of Wrath'', the final imprisonment of [[Morgoth]] and the destruction of [[Beleriand]].

** ''First Age of the Sun'' (590 years): Begins with the creation of the Sun and Moon, and ends with the ''War of Wrath'', the final imprisonment of [[Morgoth]] and the destruction of [[Beleriand]].

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[[Middle-earth locations]]

*[[:Category:Middle-earth]]

*[[Middle-earth objects]]

*[[Middle-earth locations]], [[Middle-earth objects]]

*[[Tolkien's languages]]

*[[Tolkien's languages]]

[[Category:Middle-earth| ]]

[[Category:Middle-earth| ]]