What is the history of Middle-earth?

Middle-earth is a fictional world created by J.R.R. Tolkien that serves as the setting for his most famous works, including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. The history of Middle-earth spans from its creation by the supreme being Eru Ilúvatar, to the events of the War of the Ring, which culminated in the destruction of the One Ring and the defeat of the Dark Lord Sauron.

The stories of Middle-earth were written over the course of several decades by Tolkien, who drew on his vast knowledge of mythology, language, and medieval literature to create a rich and complex world that has captivated readers for generations. The Silmarillion, published posthumously in 1977, provides a detailed history of Middle-earth from its creation to the end of the Third Age, while The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings offer more focused narratives set during the later stages of this history.

In addition to these published works, Tolkien left behind a wealth of unpublished material that sheds further light on the history of Middle-earth, including early drafts, notes, and essays. These materials were edited and compiled by his son, Christopher Tolkien, into a twelve-volume series called The History of Middle-earth, which provides an in-depth look at the creative process behind Tolkien's stories and the evolution of his ideas.

The History of Middle-earth is a 12-volume series of books published between 1983 and 1996 that collect and analyse much of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, compiled and edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien. The series shows the development over time of Tolkien's conception of Middle-earth as a fictional place with its own peoples, languages, and history, from his earliest notions of a "mythology for England" through to the development of the stories that make up The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings.

The series is divided into three periods:

• The First Age, which tells the story of the creation of the world and the rise and fall of the Firstborn Elves and the Dark Lord Morgoth.
• The Second Age, which tells the story of the rise and fall of the island kingdom of Númenor and the forging of the One Ring.
• The Third Age, which tells the story of the War of the Ring, the final conflict between good and evil in Middle-earth.

The History of Middle-earth is an essential read for any fan of Tolkien's work. It provides a wealth of information about the history, languages, and cultures of Middle-earth, as well as insights into Tolkien's creative process.

Here is a brief overview of the history of Middle-earth:

• In the beginning, there was Eru Ilúvatar, the One God. He created the Ainur, the Holy Ones, who sang a great music before him. From this music, Eru created the world, which he called Arda.
• The Ainur were divided into two groups: the Valar, the Powers of Arda, and the Maiar, their servants. The Valar ruled over Arda, and they built a great city called Valinor in the far west.
• The Elves were the firstborn children of Eru. They lived in peace and harmony in Valinor for many years. However, one of the Valar, Morgoth, became corrupted by power and rebelled against Eru. He waged war on the Valar, and he was eventually defeated. However, he escaped and fled to Middle-earth.
• In Middle-earth, Morgoth gathered an army of evil creatures, including Orcs, Trolls, and Dragons. He ruled over Middle-earth for many years, and he brought great suffering to the land.
• Eventually, a group of Elves and Men banded together to defeat Morgoth. The War of Wrath was long and bloody, but in the end, Morgoth was defeated and cast into the void.
• After the War of Wrath, the Valar returned to Middle-earth and reordered the land. They created a new island kingdom called Númenor, and they granted it to the Men who had fought against Morgoth.
• Númenor prospered for many years, but it eventually became corrupted by power. The Númenóreans rebelled against the Valar, and they were destroyed by a great flood.
• A few Númenóreans survived the flood, and they founded the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor in Middle-earth. These kingdoms were ruled by the descendants of Elendil, the last High King of Númenor.
• For many years, Gondor and Arnor were at peace. However, a new evil arose in Middle-earth: the Dark Lord Sauron. Sauron was a servant of Morgoth, and he was determined to conquer Middle-earth.
• Sauron forged the One Ring, a powerful artifact that could control the minds of other Rings of Power. He gave these Rings to the Kings and Lords of Middle-earth, and he slowly began to corrupt them.
• The One Ring eventually came into the possession of the Dark Lord. He used it to enslave the peoples of Middle-earth, and he built a great fortress called Mordor.
• The Free Peoples of Middle-earth banded together to defeat Sauron. The War of the Ring was long and bloody, but in the end, Sauron was defeated and the One Ring was destroyed.
• With Sauron's defeat, peace returned to Middle-earth. The Free Peoples rebuilt their kingdoms, and they lived in peace and harmony for many years.