The Prequels Tour

Middle-Earth Tours The Prequels Tour A Timeline

Here's a little something for the tourist who can't get enough of Middle-earth. The Prequels Tour begins with a timeline detailing the major events of Arda from the birth of the world to the birth of Bilbo Baggins. Because Tolkien changed his mind so many times about the chronology of Arda, I'm not going to even attempt to explain the relationship among the years of the different ages. Just know that Valian years were much longer than any of the others. Click on any of the links within the timeline to view quotes and illustrations from a particular story. P.S.: I've adapted the timelines for the Valian and Two Trees Years from Morgoth's Ring, and the rest from the Encyclopedia of Arda.
The Lamp of the Valar, by Ted Nasmith The Chaining of Melkor, by Roger Garland The Oath of Finrod to Barahir, by Anke-Katrin Eiszmann The House of Olwë and Elwë (click to enlarge) The House of Bëor (click to enlarge) Fingolfin's Challenge to Morgoth, by John Howe Finduilas is Led Past Turin at the Sack of Nargothrond, by Ted Nasmith Earendil the Mariner, by Ted Nasmith The Havens of Morionde, by Roger Garland The Gladden Fields, by Anke-Katrin Eiszmann Hobbiton, by Roger Garland Deagol Finds the One Ring, by Ted Nasmith	The Valian Years		The Two Trees of Valinor, by Roger Garland At Lake Cuivienin, by Ted Nasmith The Siege of Angband, by John Howe The House of Finwë (click to enlarge) Morgoth Punishes Hurin, by Ted Nasmith The Escape of Beren and Lúthien, by Ted Nasmith The Battle of Gondolin, by John Howe The Door of Night, by John Howe The Ships of the Faithful, by Ted Nasmith Gandalf, One of the Istari, by John Howe The Oathtaking of Cirion and Eorl, by Ted Nasmith Dol Guldur, by Rob Alexander
	*Year*	*Event*
	11	The Valar and Maiar descend into the new-made world. The spring of Arda begins.
	1500	The Lamps of the Valar are created to give light to the world.
	3400	Melkor overthrows the Lamps. End of the Spring of Arda.
	3450	The Valar withdraw to Aman, and the rest of the earth lies in twilight.
	3500	Yavanna and Nienna create the Two Trees. The Days of Bliss begin.
	The Years of the Trees
	*Year*	*Event*
	1000	Yavanna foretells the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar. Varda begins making the Great Stars.
	1050	The first Elves wake on the shores of Lake Cuivienin.
	1085	Oromë discovers the Elves.
	1099	Melkor is chained and brought to Valinor as prisoner.
	1101	The Elves are invited to come to Valinor.
	1130	Elwë (later Thingol) meets Melian in the woods of Nan Elmoth.
	1133	The Vanyar and Noldor reach Valinor.
	1179	Fëanor is born.
	1400	Melkor is granted conditional freedom.
	1450	Fëanor creates the silmarils.
	1495	The darkening of Valinor and the flight of the Noldor
	1500	The Sun and Moon are created
	The First Age
	*Year*	*Event*
	1	The first Noldor return to Middle-earth. Fëanor is slain. The first humans awake in Hildórien. The Elves begin their long battles with Morgoth.
	75	The Siege of Angband.
	100	Foundation of Nargothrond.
	126	Completion of Gondolin.
	305	Finrod Felagund discovers the human race.
	345	Aredhel and Maeglin return to Gondolin.
	443	Approximate birth of Beren Erchamion.
	455	Fingolfin is slain in combat with Morgoth.
	463	Birth of Túrin. Beren and Lúthien first meet.
	468	Finrod and Beren are captured by Sauron. Finrod dies, but Beren is rescued by Lúthien.
	471	Fingon is slain by Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs. Húrin is captured and tortured by Morgoth. Birth of Tuor.
	495	The sack of Nargothrond. Túrin watches helplessly.
	498	Deaths of Túrin, Glaurung, and Nienor.
	502	Deaths of Beren and Lúthien.
	503	Thingol is slain by dwarves. Melian leaves Beleriand.
	510	Fall of Gondolin and death of Turgon. Glorfindel slays a balrog and is himself killed. Tuor, Idril and Eärendil escape.
	575	Approximate date of Eärendil's arrival in Valinor.
	583	The War of Wrath. The Silmarils are lost, Beleriand is destroyed, and Morgoth is defeated.
	The Second Age
	*Year*	*Event*
	32	The Founding of Númenor. Eärendil's son Elros is the first King.
	600	The first Númenorian ships return to Middle-earth.
	1000	Sauron settles in Mordor and begins building Barad-Dûr.
	1500	The first Rings of Power are made.
	1600	Sauron forges the One Ring.
	1697	Foundation of Rivendell.
	2250	First appearance of the Nazgûl.
	3261	Ar-Pharazon brings Sauron to Númenor as prisoner.
	3319	The fall of Númenor.
	3320	Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anarion found Gondor and Anor.
	3441	Sauron is defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.
	The Third Age
	*Year*	*Event*
	2	Isildur is slain and the One Ring is lost.
	109	Wedding of Elrond and Celebrian.
	241	Birth of Arwen.
	1000	Arrival of the Istari in Middle-earth.
	1409	The Witch King of Angmar terrorizes the Northern Realms.
	1601	Foundation of the Shire.
	1980	The Dwarves of Moria unleash Durin's Bane.
	2463	Sméagol finds the One Ring.
2510	The Rohirrim are given the land of Calenhardon (later Rohan) with the Oath of Cirion and Eorl.
2759	Saruman takes up residence in Orthanc.
2770	Smaug takes up residence in the Lonely Mountain.
2851	The White Council discovers that the Necromancer at Dol Guldur is Sauron.
2890	Birth of Bilbo Baggins.
Full-size versions of these pictures are on display at Rolozo Tolkien. Back to Middle-earth Tours main page e-mail me