Eriador

Eriador was the broad region of north-western Middle-earth lying between the Misty Mountains in the east and the Blue Mountains (Ered Luin) in the west, bounded by the rivers Lhûn and Greyflood. It contained the Shire, Bree, Rivendell's approaches, and the ruined heart of the old North-kingdom.

Geography

Eriador was a land of rolling hills, downs, woods, and open country, watered by the rivers Baranduin (the Brandywine), Hoarwell (Mitheithel), Loudwater (Bruinen), and Greyflood (Gwathló). The Ford of Bruinen guarded the eastern approach toward Rivendell. The Great East Road ran across the region, linking the Shire and Bree to the High Pass over the mountains.

History

In the Second Age, Eriador was the scene of the war between Sauron and the Elves of Eregion. In the Third Age it formed the kingdom of Arnor, the North-kingdom of the Dúnedain, founded by Elendil. Arnor later split into the realms of Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur, which were worn down and at last destroyed in the long wars against the witch-realm of Angmar.

After the fall of the North-kingdom, much of Eriador became empty wilderness, its old cities thrown down. The land was thereafter watched and guarded by the Rangers of the North, the surviving Dúnedain, who kept the peace of the Shire and Bree even though their labour was unknown to the folk who dwelt there.