Dominion of Men

The Dominion of Men is a period of time that officially began with the advent of the Fourth Age and Aragorn's ascent to the Throne of Gondor, though more strictly speaking it took place much earlier, at the end of the First Age. It is technically still going on today. The phrase "Dominion of Men" refers to the fact that Men remained the only speaking race on the world and inherited the mastery of Middle-earth from the Elves, most of whom then left Middle-earth and sailed to the West. Gandalf spoke of the Dominion of Men when he and Aragorn stood in the high hallow on Mindolluin, where there grew a sapling of Nimloth.