Middle-earth facts for kids
Middle-earth is a make-believe fantasy world created by J. R. R. Tolkien. Many of his famous books, like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, happen there. Tolkien imagined it as a mythical time in our own world's distant past.
Even though Middle-earth is just one continent in Tolkien's bigger fictional world, people often use the name to talk about all his stories and places. Tolkien worked on Middle-earth for most of his life. It is the amazing world he built that made him so famous.
Middle-earth has its own lands, different types of beings (like elves, dwarves, humans, and hobbits), their own languages, and a history that lasts thousands of years. Tolkien's stories about Middle-earth are also like a special kind of 'made-up myth'.
In the fictional Elvish languages, Quenya and Sindarin, "Middle-earth" is called Endor or Endóre and Ennor.
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Peoples of Middle-earth
Middle-earth is home to many different groups of people. Each group has its own unique qualities and history.
Elves
The Elves are the oldest people in Middle-earth. They are also immortal, meaning they live forever. They are often wise and connected to nature.
Dwarves
The Dwarves came after the Elves. They are known for living deep underground in mountains. Dwarves are skilled at mining and crafting beautiful things from metal and jewels.
Men
After the Dwarves came Men. Unlike Elves, Men are mortal, which means they do not live forever. They are often brave and play a big part in the later stories.
Hobbits
In the Third Age, a new group appeared: the Hobbits. Hobbits are small, peaceful people who love good food and comfortable homes. They usually live in the Shire.
Ents
There are also the Ents. These are ancient, tree-like beings. They are the shepherds of the forests and move very slowly.
Middle-earth's Long History
The history of Middle-earth spans thousands of years. When very important events happen, a new Age begins. Each new Age starts counting its years from 1 again.
First Age
The First Age is split into two parts: the "First Age of the Trees" and the "First Age of the Sun". When people say "First Age" and a year, they usually mean a year in the "First Age of the Sun".
First Age of the Trees
This part of the First Age began when the Two Trees of Valinor were created. During this time, the Elves and Dwarves first appeared in the world. It ended when the Two Trees were destroyed.
First Age of the Sun
This period lasted for 590 years. It started with the creation of the Sun and Moon. This Age ended with the War of Wrath. This was a huge battle that led to the evil Morgoth being imprisoned forever. It also caused the destruction of the land of Beleriand.
Second Age
The Second Age (S.A.) lasted for 3441 years. It began right after the War of Wrath ended. A major event in this Age was the destruction of the island kingdom of Númenor (in S.A. 3319). This Age ended with the defeat of Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance.
Third Age
The Third Age (T.A.) lasted for 3021 years. It started after the Last Alliance defeated Sauron. During this Age, the events of The Hobbit (T.A. 2941) took place. The famous War of the Ring (T.A. 3018-3019) also happened in this Age. This Age ended with the destruction of the One Ring and the final defeat of Sauron.
Fourth Age
The Fourth Age followed the defeat of Sauron and the One Ring. It officially began when the Ring-bearers left Middle-earth for the West. In this Age, the Elves slowly faded away and left the world. Humans then became the main people of Middle-earth.
More About Middle-earth
Images for kids
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"A Map of Middle-earth" by Pauline Baynes, 1970. This map shows only the north-west part of the continent of Middle-earth.
See also
In Spanish: Tierra Media para niños
