Changes

== History ==

== History ==

=== Beginning and First Age ===

=== Beginning ===

In the beginning there was Eru Ilúvatar, and from him came the Ainur. Eru created the universe, '''Eä'''. Some of the Ainur entered into Eä, as the powerful Valar and lesser Maiar, who worked a to shape the world.  

In the beginning there was Eru Ilúvatar, and from him came the Ainur. Eru created the universe, '''Eä'''. Some of the Ainur entered into Eä, as the powerful Valar and lesser Maiar, who worked a to shape the world.  

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 east was the continent Middle-earth, and in the west the island Valinor, land of the Valar.  

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 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]]''.

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

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. 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]].

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]].

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.

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 ===

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).

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 ==