Changes

== 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 and the Undying Lands 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" and the "First Age of the Sun"; referring to simply the "First Age" often means the "First Age of the Sun".  

* ''Creation'': The period in which Arda (the world in which Middle-Earth is based in) is created by Eru.

** ''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.

* ''Ages of Lamps'': The period in which the world was lighted up by gaint lamps. The age ended when [[Morgoth|Melkor]] distroyed the lamps.

** ''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 Trees'': An era within the Undying Lands. In this era, Trees of Valar were planted.

* '''Second Age''' (S.A., 3441 years): Begins after the end of the ''[[War of Wrath]]''. Contains the destruction of [[Númenor]] (T.A. 3319). Ends with the defeat of Sauron in the ''[[War of the Last Alliance]]''.

* ''Second Age of the Trees'': Began with the creation of stars and ended with the destruction of the Trees of Valar.

* '''Third Age''' (T.A., 3021 years): Began after Sauron's defeat by the Last Alliance. Contains the events of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' (T.A. 2941) and the [[The Lord of the Rings|War of the Ring]] (T.A. 3018-3019). Ends with the destruction of the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] and the defeat of [[Sauron]].

* ''Age of Darkness'': A time where Middle-Earth was covered in darkness.

* '''Fourth Age''': followed the defeat of Sauron and the One Ring, but started officially when the Bearers of the [[Rings of Power|Three Rings]] left for the West. The Elves dwindle and leave, while the realms of Men prosper, becoming the dominant people of Middle-earth.<ref>J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix B</ref>  

* ''Age of Stars'': Began with the Awakening of the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] and the [[Dwarves (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]]. In this age, the Orc were invented.

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

* '''Second Age of the Sun''' (S.A., 3441 years): Begins after the end of the ''[[War of Wrath]]''. Contains the destruction of [[Númenor]] (T.A. 3319). Ends with the defeat of Sauron in the ''[[War of the Last Alliance]]''.

* '''Third Age of the Sun''' ''' (T.A., 3021 years): Began after Sauron's defeat by the Last Alliance. Contains the events of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' (T.A. 2941) and the [[The Lord of the Rings|War of the Ring]] (T.A. 3018-3019). Ends with the destruction of the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] and the defeat of [[Sauron]].

* '''Fourth Age of the Sun''' ''': followed the defeat of Sauron and the One Ring, but started officially when the Bearers of the [[Rings of Power|Three Rings]] left for the West. The Elves dwindle and leave, while the realms of Men prosper, becoming the dominant people of Middle-earth.<ref>J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix B</ref>  

There exist several calendars, as the different peoples created their own or adapted them from older systems. Another important calendar for the books is that of the [[Hobbit]]s: the '''''Shire Calendar''''' and the '''''Shire Reckoning'''''. The Shire Reckoning (S.R.) starts with the colonisation of the [[Shire (Middle-earth)|Shire]] in T.A. 1601 as year one. The Shire Calendar and Shire Reckoning was used in the Shire and in [[Breeland]].<ref>J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix D</ref>

There exist several calendars, as the different peoples created their own or adapted them from older systems. Another important calendar for the books is that of the [[Hobbit]]s: the '''''Shire Calendar''''' and the '''''Shire Reckoning'''''. The Shire Reckoning (S.R.) starts with the colonisation of the [[Shire (Middle-earth)|Shire]] in T.A. 1601 as year one. The Shire Calendar and Shire Reckoning was used in the Shire and in [[Breeland]].<ref>J. R. R. Tolkien, ''The Lord of the Rings'', Appendix D</ref>