Third Age
From Tolkien Gateway
History of Arda | ||
---|---|---|
Before the Creation | ||
Before the Ages | ||
Days before days | ||
Years of the Trees (up to Y.T. 1050) | ||
Ages of the Children of Ilúvatar | ||
First Age (begins in Y.T. 1050 and overlaps with the Years of the Trees up to Y.T. 1500) - Years of the Sun begin in F.A. 1 | ||
Second Age - Arda made round in S.A. 3319 | ||
Third Age | ||
Fourth Age | ||
Later Ages (up to present day) | ||
End of Arda | ||
Timeline of Arda (See: Round World version of the Silmarillion for a later conception of Tolkien's cosmology) |
The Third Age began after the first downfall of Sauron, when he was defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men following the downfall of Númenor.
This age was characterized by the waning of the Elves, the rise and decline of the exiled Númenorean kingdoms, and the slow recovery of Sauron's power.
It lasted for 3021 years, until Sauron was again defeated, this time finally, when his Ruling Ring was destroyed. When Bilbo and Frodo left Middle-earth for the Uttermost West, the Fourth Age began.