Changes

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.

* ''Creation'First Age': The period in which Arda (the world in which Middle-Earth is based in) is created by Eru.* ''Ages of Lamps'': The First Age can be further divided, into period in which the "world was lighted up by gaint lamps. The age ended when [[Morgoth|Melkor]] distroyed the lamps.* ''First Age of the Trees" and '': An era within the "First Undying Lands. In this era, Trees of Valar were planted.* ''Second Age of the Sun"; referring to simply Trees'': Began with the "First Age" often means creation of stars and ended with the "First Age destruction of the Sun"Trees of Valar. *''Age of Darkness'': A time where Middle-Earth was covered in darkness.* ''First Age of the TreesStars'': The long period beginning at the creation of the Two Trees, containing Began with the Awakening of the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] and the [[Dwarves (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]]. In this age, and ending with the destruction of the Two TreesOrc were invented.** ''First Age of the Sun'' (590 years): Begins with the creation of the Sun and Moon, and ends the awakening of men. It ended with the ''War of Wrath'', the final imprisonment of [[Morgoth]] and the destruction of [[Beleriand]].* '''Second Ageof 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 Ageof 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 Ageof 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>