The events of the War of the Ring were
set in motion long before the Third Age. Before the Realms of Men, Before the Awakening of
the Elves, Before the Planting of the Two Trees, before even the forming of All That Is. In
the beginning, there was only Eru Ilúvatar. It was he who gave rise to creation and in
those first moments shared with his angels a vision of all that would come to pass. Today
we shall sing of these events and join in their chorus to bring the Great Themes of Tolkien’s
world to life. Welcome to the Second Age. you can get introduced to the fascinating history
of real and imagined civilization thorough sponsor of wondering onedrum offers subscription-based
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those of you wishing to understand the deeper historical roots of The Lord of the Rings for
example Tolkien was a professional philologist with the deep love of medieval Legends one
dream has an entire lecture series on Old English language and literature which will provide
Rich context for engaging with tolkien's work specifically I recommend the final episode 24
which brings it all together to analyze the impact this history has had on the modern world my mind
was blown by how many fantasy Heroes creatures and themes can be found crawling out of the pages
of ancient texts and into our own books movies and shows Beyond this one dream also has an Ever
evolving library of content for more exploration you can watch traveling the Roman Empire through a
real-life journey into Antiquity or you can catch America's great Trails which highlights the
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I highly recommend that you take a look at what they have to offer and dive into the material
that you are most interested in enjoy [Music] Middle Earth is but a small part of the world of Arda which itself has taken many forms
over the millennia of its existence. The initial spark of creation was provided by
the transcendent, supreme deity Eru Ilúvatar. It was he who first created the angelic spirits
known as the "Ainur" and who instructed them on the art of heaven’s music. Through this
process did each of them become aware of their own embodied themes and those of their
kin. Next Ilúvatar proposed to the multitude that they work together to elaborate upon a
grand theme. Yet as the chorus began their harmony it was disrupted by the most powerful
of the Ainur, he who arises in might, Melkor. Created with partial knowledge of his siblings’
themes and the very thoughts of Ilúvatar, he developed an impatience with the others and a
yearning to bring forth his own perceived ideas. Thus the first three themes of the Ainulindalë
collapsed into a cacophony and others of the Ainur were corrupted. Finally Melkor’s “loud, vain,
and endlessly repeated” themes were cut short by the issuance by the creator of “one chord,
deeper than the Abyss, higher than the Firmament, and piercing as the light of the eye of Ilúvatar”.
Like a petulant child, Melkor was scolded. His rage only grew when Ilúvatar showed
the Ainur a vision of how their Great Music could together bring about the
Birth, Life and Death of the Universe. In doing so, Melkor now realized
that all his destructive attempts at independence were but an anticipated
part in the grand scheme of Ilúvatar. When the vision ended, the Ainur were left
with but faint memories of what had been shown. Even still, all were enraptured by
the prospect of bringing it to life. At this point Ilúvatar called forth
from the void Eä, "All That Is", and gave the Ainur the ability to
descend into the unformed universe. Thus Arda bubbled with activity. The most powerful
of the Ainur, known as the Valar, had the greatest hand to play in its transformation. Chief
among them were Manwë, Ulmo, Aulë and Melkor. Through their efforts and the support of lesser
Valar known as the Maiar did a primitive earth take form. But as had occurred with heaven’s
chorus, not all of creation was concordant. While most of the Valar and Maiar worked to
prepare the world for the forsung coming of the Children of Ilúvatar, Melkor strove to counteract
them, precipitating the first War of the Universe. It is as a result of these struggles that
Arda took its first form with the Valar settling in Aman to the west and Melkor
settling in Middle-Earth to the east. At this point, the world was cast in darkness
until the Valar Yavanna sung into existence two great light-giving trees, silver Telperion
and golden Laurelin. Together they illuminated the lands of Aman. Thus began the First
Year of the Trees. And yet it was far from their light that the first Children
of Ilúvatar awoke over 1,000 years later. Upon the shores of Lake Cuiviénen in the east
of Middle-Earth, the Elves stirred to life. With only the stars to grant them vision, they
began to take their first steps in the world, maturing in terms of survival, culture,
and language. The First Age had begun. Melkor was the first to discover them. Some
were captured or slain while the rest were driven into hiding. Eventually they would
be discovered by the Valar who now waged a war upon Melkor to protect these First Born.
The War of the Powers saw the great hosts of both sides clash in a titanic battle
which eventually saw Melkor captured and brought back in the chains of Angainor to be
imprisoned in the Halls of Mandos within Valinor. Peace returned to Arda. The Elves were now
invited to join the Valar in the light of Aman. Many went willingly yet others remained behind,
in fear of the terrible power which had been unleashed in the war. This Sundering of the
Elves would be a defining moment for all the descendants of Ilúvatar’s first born. Those who
stayed behind under the stars were called the Moriquendi or the Elves of Darkness. The Avari
were those who refused the journey entirely. The Nandor were those who made it as far as the
woodlands to the east of the Misty Mountains. And the Sindar were those who stopped
in the coastal regions of Beleriand. Those who made it all the way to Aman were known
as the Calaquendi or the Elves of Light. They included the Vanyar under King Ingwë, the Noldor
under King Finwë, and the Falmari under King Olwë. Over the following years, the Elves, blessed with
natural fortitude and immortality, would begin to populate their respective corners of Arda.
They sired great lines, built large cities, and developed impressive cultures. The Elves
of Aman did so under the direct guidance of the Valar and thus rose to the greatest heights.
Soon they would be joined in Arda by the awakening of the Dwarves whose 7 Fathers would go on
to serve as Kings of their respective clans. However this period of peace and prosperity would
not last. Three hundred years after his capture, a repentant Melkor would be pardoned by the
Valar. But no sooner had he been released than his hands turned to mischief. This time however
his methods of ruination proved more subtle. Taking the form of an elf he mounted a campaign
of whispers and manipulation which brought about dissent among their ranks. As hostilities
grew, brother turned on brother and many even grew distrustful of the Valar. In response
a grand banquet was called to mend the peace. However at this precise moment Melkor now made his
move openly. Together with Ungoliant, spawn of the Void, the pair drained the life of the Two Trees
of Valinor, plunging the world into darkness. The assailants then sacked the city of Formenos,
plundering its treasures, slaying Finwë, and escaping to Middle-Earth
with the precious Silmarils. Feanor, eldest son of the slain Finwë and
creator of the Silmarils now pledged an oath of vengeance and led the Noldor
in a campaign against the Dark Enemy. This would be a pivotal moment in history. At
first the Valar refused to intercede, leaving the Elves to Mount the offensive themselves.
The bullheadedness of their advance led to many tragedies such as the Kinslaying of Alqualondë
where the Telferi were slaughtered in the hasty process of commandeering their vessels for the
journey. This gravest of sins would stain the expedition. As it sailed to Middle-Earth the Valar
passed judgment upon them in the Doom of Mandos. "Tears unnumbered ye shall shed; and the
Valar will fence Valinor against you, and shut you out, so that not even the echo of
your lamentation shall pass over the mountains. On the House of Fëanor the wrath of the Valar
lieth from the West unto the uttermost East, and upon all that will follow them it shall
be laid also. Their Oath shall drive them, and yet betray them, and ever snatch away the
very treasures that they have sworn to pursue. To evil end shall all things turn that they
begin well; and by treason of kin unto kin, and the fear of treason, shall this come to
pass. The Dispossessed shall they be for ever." Upon hearing this, some Elves returned immediately
to seek repentance while the remainder of the Noldor pressed on. Terrible woes accompanied their
journeys and the conflict to defeat Melkor soon spiraled into the multi-century War of the Jewels.
During this time many new Kingdoms would be formed by the Elves as well as by the Men who awoke in
the year 1500 alongside the creation of the Sun and the Moon. But the arrival of man was less than
idyllic. Unlike The First Born they had short life spans and grew up in a time of quarrel. In this
chaotic environment many took the side of the Elves while others attempted to remain neutral
or were corrupted by Melkor to join his side. The next 5 centuries brought with them convulsive
periods of escalating violence between the various factions. In the darkest hours of the conflict,
the hosts of Melkor brought ruin as orcs, balrogs, plagues, volcanoes, and all manner of other
forces were unleashed upon the land. One by one the Kingdoms of Men and Elves fell. The Enemy’s
dominion of Middle-Earth was nearly complete. However the Valar would finally be
persuaded to join the cause in what became known as the War of Wrath. The
battles which ensued over the following decades were the largest, bloodiest, and
most destructive in the history of Arda. Following the war’s climax Melkor would be
utterly defeated, beheaded by the Valar and thrust through the Door of Night into the void.
In his wake much of the world was left in ruin as the entire landmass of Beleriand sunk into the
sea. Though tendrils of evil still survived, including Melkor’s lieutenant Sauron and
several of the Balrogs, they now retreated into the dark recesses of the Earth. Likewise
many Elves also withdrew from Middle-Earth, sailing west to rejon the Valar in Aman.
Yet some of their kind remained behind to tend to the land alongside the races of
men and dwarves. Thus ended the First Age. These are the histories recorded by the ancestors
and those who still remember their passing. Now. Let us explore the world of
Middle-Earth in the Second Age of our time. Though scarred by the past,
these lands have begun to heal. To the North-West lies the coastal region
of Lindon. It is here that the High King Gil-Galad rules over the Elves and their
important settlements of Harlond, Forlond, and the Gray Havens. He is joined by Elrond
who acts as his chief Captain and Herald. In days gone by the Elves had once lived closely
alongside the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains. However their halls were destroyed during the
Sinking of Beleriand and now lay abandoned. To the east extends the weathered hill country of
Eriador. Its lands are home to various tribes of Middle Men. Among them lies the Elven Kingdom of
Eregion which is ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn from their capital of Ost-in-Edhil. Nestled
against the foothills of the Misty Mountains they maintain cordial relations with the neighboring
Dwarves. Of particular note in this regard is the vast underground realm of Khazad-Dum, later
known as Moria. Ruled by Durin's Folk, it is the most famed of all the Dwarven realms owing to its
splendid halls, rich mines, and skilled craftsmen. Yet far below, beneath even the deepest holds, exist primordial caverns shrouded in perpetual
darkness and gnawed by 'nameless things'. Beyond the Misty Mountains lie the vast forests
along the Anduin Valley. These had long been populated by the Elven clans which had not
made the original journey to Aman and which now mingled to form the Silvan Elves. Following
the calamitous events of the War of Wrath, they were joined by various elven refugees.
Among them was the Sindarin Prince Orpoher who was soon made King of the Woodland realm
and later Amdir who was made King of Lórien. Around these regions of Rhovanion
exist yet more clans of men and enclaves of Dwarves. Notably the two
have established symbiotic relations to resist the greater threat of orcs and
Melkor’s creatures in the wilder regions. To the north stretches a vast chain of mountains
and beyond them the frigid wastes of Forodwaith where strange folk and stanger beasts lurk. The
east meanwhile is a wide expanse marked by the course of the river Running which spills into the
sea of Rhun [Rune]. Little is known of these lands beyond the hostility of the various tribes of
man which fell to the influence of the Dark Lord. Turning south one may follow the life-giving
flow of the Great Anduin river down into the Bay of Belfalas. Here the regions of Calenardhon
and the White Mountains are sparsely populated save for a few settlements and lingering bands
of Drúedain while the coastal regions tempt new colonists from other lands. Further south lie the
lands of Harad and Khand which also boast tribes of men. These lie in the shadow of Mordor whose
volcanic wastes have long remained uninhabitable. But we would be remiss not to extend our
gaze beyond the shores of Middle-Earth. For it is here, in the midst of the Great Sea of
Belegaer that one will find the Island of Elenna. Following the calamitous War of Wrath, the Valar
had seen fit to raise this new land as a gift to the Houses of Men who had aided in the defeat of
Melkor. Those who followed the star of Eärendil to take up this new mantle were also granted
extended life along with increased wisdom and physical traits. They and their descendants
would come to be known as the Númenóreans. The Kingdom of Númenór was first populated by a
wide range of human refugees from Middle-Earth. Chief among them was the half-elven lord Elros
and brother of Elrond who had chosen the life of a mortal. He was crowned Tar-Minyatur in the
new capital city of Armenelos in the year 32 of the Second Age. Over the following centuries,
he would oversee the Kingdom’s flourishing. This was in large part made possible by the
geographic and ecological gifts of the island. At its center stood the holy mountain Meneltarma,
the Pillar of Heaven which dominated the island. From its high, flattened peak one could almost
see the distant shores of Aman and it would be from here that the kings of Numenor made their
ritual worship to Iluvatar. From its sides descended rolling foothills which extended
to the five pointed peninsulas. The interior was rich in fertile grassland and bountiful
woodland which teemed with all manner of plants and animals. Their great wealth was owed to the
nurturing of Valar Yavanna and the Elves of Aman who brought many specimens found nowhere else
in Middle-Earth. The coasts meanwhile were also bountiful sources of wildlife while the deeper
ocean beyond hosted many great shoals of fish. Thus it was that the Numenoreans quickly
flourished. Soon they had established major cities across the five districts of the island. Most
notable among them was the capital of Armenelos with its royal palace and vast structures
reportedly wrought with the assistance of the Maiar. The western port of Andúnië
flourished in the early years as a host city for the arrival of elves from Aman while
in later years the eastern port of Romenna would gain prominence as the Numenoreans
turned their gaze towards Middle-Earth. Historically speaking, this would
occur in the 5th and 6th centuries of the Second Age as the sailors of the
island ventured further and further afield. Yet the Numenoreans had been barred by the Valar
from sailing west beyond the site of the island, leaving their most enterprising captains to
instead journey ever further in the opposite direction. Eventually, in the year 600,
the first ship would reach Middle-Earth. This event set off a whirlwind of activity.
Soon more expeditions were launched. In the words of the Loremaster Pengolodh:
they sailed quote “From the darkness of the North to the heats of the South, and
beyond the South to the Nether Darkness; and they came even into the inner
seas, and sailed about Middle-earth and glimpsed from their high prows
the Gates of Morning in the East.” The initial phase of this golden age of
exploration saw the Numenoreans establish colonies on the mainland and rekindle
their ancient bonds of friendship with the men, dwarves, and elves their
ancestors had long ago left behind. The exchange was at first quite fruitful
as these new High Men were able to both instruct the ranks of their lesser brethren
whilst also learning much from the Elves. The next phase of their involvement
in Middle Earth however would prove transformative as they participated in
the struggles against the Rise of Sauron. Yet in their greatest moments of triumph came
the seeds of defeat. The Numenoreans, realizing they were unmatched in strength, now began to see
themselves as the rightful masters of the land. They became more exploitative in their dealings
with Middle-Earth with eyes turned to greed and Empire. They cut down endless forests and quarried
vast mines for the construction of ever grander fleets and regal cities whilst sailing home with
not just gifts but now tribute, taxes, and loot. But most pernicious of all would be the
jealousy of immortality that they brought home. To once again quote Pengolodh: “But the
fear of death grew ever darker upon them, and they delayed it by all means that they
could; and they began to build great houses for their dead, while their wise men labored
unceasingly to discover, if they might, the secret of recalling life, or at least
of the prolonging of Men’s days.” This obsession grew ever stronger
with each passing generation. Over time it brought about resentment, distrust,
and eventually outright hatred of the Elves and even of the Valar who would not cure them of their
mortality. Such was the festering nature of this psychological wound that it would ultimately
rupture the fabric of Numenorean society. Though wise and far seeing leaders would attempt to right
the ship, none were prepared for what was to come. I hope you’ve appreciated our exploration of the
incredible works of Tolkien and found it useful as a primer for a deeper dive into the material.
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