The Lord of the Rings Series: The Four Ages of Middle-earth Explained

While The Lord of the Rings films are set in the Third Age of Middle-earth, Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth. Overall, author JRR Tolkien even created four ages for the scope of his stories. It can easily happen that one loses the overview. But don’t worry, we’ll give you a little overview of the four ages!

Watch “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” on Amazon Prime Video❯

1. The First Age

2. The Second Age

3. The Third Age

4. The Fourth Age

The First Age

The First Age is the longest of the four ages and begins with the completion of Arda. Arda is the world on which Middle-earth is located. In the first age Galadriel and Elrond are born. The age is marked by the struggle of the Valar, gods who are supposed to ensure order, against Melkor.

Melkor (also Morgoth), a renegade Valar, becomes the source of all evil in Middle-earth and Sauron his most powerful servant. Unlike his master Melkor, who is banished from Arda after the War of Wrath, Sauron can hide and return.

The Second Age

After the banishment of Melkor, the Second Age begins. It lasts until the final alliance’s victory over Sauron on the slopes of Mount Doom. After the War of Wrath, the Elves establish their kingdoms in Middle-earth. This is how Rivendell, Lothlórien and the Elbenreich arise in Mirkwood.

Sauron founds Mordor, forges the Rings of Power and manipulates them to bring about the downfall of Númenor. An island given to humans by the Valar. The survivors found the Kingdom of Gondor. In the Battle of the Last Alliance, Sauron is defeated and Isildur, King of Gondor, takes the One Ring.

The Third Age

After Sauron’s defeat, Isildur plants the white tree of Gondor. Thus begins the Third Age. After Isildur leaves Gondor, he is ambushed and killed by orcs on the way to Rivendell. The One Ring is lost and later falls into the hands of Gollum. Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast and two other wizards set foot on Middle-earth for the first time. During the Third Age, the kingdom of Rohan is established.

Sauron rises again! The Third Age is the most well-known of the ages, for the actions of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit take place during this time. During the events of The Hobbit, Sauron is driven from Dol Guldur and gathers his powers in Mordor. 60 years later, the plot of the Lord of the Rings begins. Sauron is finally destroyed. The Third Age ends with the journey of Frodo, Bilbo and Gandalf west to Valinor.

The Fourth Age

The Fourth Age is the last age that Tolkien describes. In this age Aragorn, Faramir, Eómer, Merry, Pippin and Arwen die. Sam also travels west, to Valinor, to Frodo, Bilbo and Gandalf.

On September 2, 2022, the first two episodes of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” Season 1 will be released in the Amazon Prime Video New Releases program. Then it continues with one episode each week.