Technically speaking, Europe experienced two Dark Ages: the first Dark Age occurred from approximately 1200 BCE to 800 BCE. Middle-earth’s civilizations were first dominated by the Sindar of Beleriand, then by the Eldar (Noldor and Sindar) of Beleriand/Lindon, and finally by the Numenoreans (and their successors the Dunedain of Arnor and Gondor).Įach of the great civilizations of Middle-earth experienced a rise and fall, but in the earlier ages there are nothing like the so-called “dark ages” that have affected European history. Of course, other cultures existed around these European cultures but they were the dominant European civilizations. Ancient European civilization was dominated by first the Minoans, then the Greeks, and finally the Romans.

Like Europe, Middle-earth has a long history that is marked by different cultural periods. Some people use slightly different timeframes but Medieval Europe is popularly associated with a very powerful Roman Catholic Church led by the popes, feudalism-based monarchies in England, France, Germany, and Italy, and by relatively small armies led by knights (although some of the armies of the Crusades numbered over 100,000 soldiers). Most often we use it to speak of things relating to Europe during the timeframe from approximately 700 CE to 1350 CE. The word medieval can mean more than one thing. Many readers incorrectly assume that Middle-earth is simply Medieval Europe masquerading under a set of different names. ANSWER: There is much reader confusion about the nature or status of Middle-earth.

Lord of the rings medieval