Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Consider supporting our work: patreon.com/wizardswarriors
Previously in our series on the world of Tolkien, the world of the Lord of the Rings, we have talked about the First and Third ages of the Middle-Earth, covering the entire of the Third Age and the war of the ring (youtu.be/BmqKXTqXglM), the rise of Morgoth in the First Age (youtu.be/LFQ9RyGJ5uw) and his fall (youtu.be/ewrJVLdPx9k), as well as the economy and the societies of the Middle-Earth (youtu.be/B86jAx_gPPU). Why does Middle-earth feel as though it is slowly dying—even after Sauron is defeated? Tolkien’s world is filled with abandoned kingdoms, fading Elves, dwindling Dwarves and wonders that can never be recreated. This was no accidental backdrop. It reflected Tolkien’s concept of history as a “long defeat”: a struggle in which evil may be resisted, but every victory still carries irreversible loss. This video explores how Melkor’s corruption permanently marred Arda and why its divine light became increasingly fragmented—from the Lamps and Two Trees to the Silmarils and Elven Rings. We examine why magic diminishes with every age, why the Elves must eventually abandon Middle-earth and why Men inherit a world stripped of its ancient wonders. We also uncover the influences behind Tolkien’s declining world, including his Catholic faith, experiences during the First World War, hostility toward industrialization and longing for a disappearing rural England. From the destruction of Beleriand and Númenor to the ruins encountered by the Fellowship, Middle-earth is haunted by civilizations greater than anything remaining. The War of the Ring ends in victory—but also destroys the power preserving the last Elven realms. Frodo succeeds, Sauron falls and magic leaves Middle-earth forever.
Full History of Middle-Earth: youtu.be/4WXre3N_UC0
Armies of Middle-Earth: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b1P4htSWJv3UUPP5E0HcquL
Economy of Middle-Earth youtu.be/B86jAx_gPPU
Our other series:
Middle-Earth - youtu.be/cVHygcEZbjY?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b1P4htSWJv3UUPP5E0HcquL
Witcher - youtu.be/VISScJAyl5s?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b2M0MwLZF8oq-BuoavZOkzz
Game of Thrones - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b3JN6nfgBaXCO-Fq2AI3m16
Warhammer Fantasy - youtube.com/watch?v=bn1Oj9QEf3U&list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b1A4SyXaKCeUN16SJ9WsccC
Warhammer 40k - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b1nnHZT8LkdjPZJ-hAX0DvS
Star Wars - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b3RzrRLfjpViIqP5rE959xT
Fallout - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b3Syq6NM-mbZg9kjTAGDx1N
Wheel of Time - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b10tegwrmO3uR6ZSW6VPSht
Elder Scrolls - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b0GMTIPuM1fMHowJEFbbC9D
Conan - youtube.com/watch?v=OqHZvT-djQU&list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b3SLiDyo8ToLBS8aNdKy_vH
Cosmere, Mistborn, Stormlight, Elantris, Warbreaker - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b2nIRFktjJeoeZHK2Z9azYF
Dragon Age - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b0rUhBwTzOyesiS2jXmRCOx
Alternative History - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b33A2vPRIbU0hsekD4rIqbQ
Final Fantasy XIV - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b10Tg9iH_zg9WDfgersNHDR
✔ Patreon ► patreon.com/wizardswarriors
✔ PayPal ► paypal.me/kingsandgenerals
✔ Twitter ► twitter.com/WizardsWarrior2
Writer: Craig Watson
Illustration and Animation: Arb Paninken
Map: Adam Ellis Charters
Narration: OfficiallyDevin (youtube.com/user/OfficiallyDevin)
00:00:00 - Why Middle-earth Is Dying
00:01:10 - Arda Marred and the Fading Light
00:05:04 - Tolkien’s Real-World Inspirations
00:08:15 - Why the Immortal Peoples Vanish
00:11:16 - The Ruins of Lost Glory
00:13:23 - Victory—and the End of Magic
Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com
#Lore #MiddleEarth #LordOfTheRings
Consider supporting our work: patreon.com/wizardswarriors
Previously in our series on the world of Tolkien, the world of the Lord of the Rings, we have talked about the First and Third ages of the Middle-Earth, covering the entire of the Third Age and the war of the ring (youtu.be/BmqKXTqXglM), the rise of Morgoth in the First Age (youtu.be/LFQ9RyGJ5uw) and his fall (youtu.be/ewrJVLdPx9k), as well as the economy and the societies of the Middle-Earth (youtu.be/B86jAx_gPPU). Why does Middle-earth feel as though it is slowly dying—even after Sauron is defeated? Tolkien’s world is filled with abandoned kingdoms, fading Elves, dwindling Dwarves and wonders that can never be recreated. This was no accidental backdrop. It reflected Tolkien’s concept of history as a “long defeat”: a struggle in which evil may be resisted, but every victory still carries irreversible loss. This video explores how Melkor’s corruption permanently marred Arda and why its divine light became increasingly fragmented—from the Lamps and Two Trees to the Silmarils and Elven Rings. We examine why magic diminishes with every age, why the Elves must eventually abandon Middle-earth and why Men inherit a world stripped of its ancient wonders. We also uncover the influences behind Tolkien’s declining world, including his Catholic faith, experiences during the First World War, hostility toward industrialization and longing for a disappearing rural England. From the destruction of Beleriand and Númenor to the ruins encountered by the Fellowship, Middle-earth is haunted by civilizations greater than anything remaining. The War of the Ring ends in victory—but also destroys the power preserving the last Elven realms. Frodo succeeds, Sauron falls and magic leaves Middle-earth forever.
Full History of Middle-Earth: youtu.be/4WXre3N_UC0
Armies of Middle-Earth: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b1P4htSWJv3UUPP5E0HcquL
Economy of Middle-Earth youtu.be/B86jAx_gPPU
Our other series:
Middle-Earth - youtu.be/cVHygcEZbjY?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b1P4htSWJv3UUPP5E0HcquL
Witcher - youtu.be/VISScJAyl5s?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b2M0MwLZF8oq-BuoavZOkzz
Game of Thrones - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b3JN6nfgBaXCO-Fq2AI3m16
Warhammer Fantasy - youtube.com/watch?v=bn1Oj9QEf3U&list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b1A4SyXaKCeUN16SJ9WsccC
Warhammer 40k - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b1nnHZT8LkdjPZJ-hAX0DvS
Star Wars - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b3RzrRLfjpViIqP5rE959xT
Fallout - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b3Syq6NM-mbZg9kjTAGDx1N
Wheel of Time - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b10tegwrmO3uR6ZSW6VPSht
Elder Scrolls - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b0GMTIPuM1fMHowJEFbbC9D
Conan - youtube.com/watch?v=OqHZvT-djQU&list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b3SLiDyo8ToLBS8aNdKy_vH
Cosmere, Mistborn, Stormlight, Elantris, Warbreaker - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b2nIRFktjJeoeZHK2Z9azYF
Dragon Age - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b0rUhBwTzOyesiS2jXmRCOx
Alternative History - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b33A2vPRIbU0hsekD4rIqbQ
Final Fantasy XIV - youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Qq-rUSt7b10Tg9iH_zg9WDfgersNHDR
✔ Patreon ► patreon.com/wizardswarriors
✔ PayPal ► paypal.me/kingsandgenerals
✔ Twitter ► twitter.com/WizardsWarrior2
Writer: Craig Watson
Illustration and Animation: Arb Paninken
Map: Adam Ellis Charters
Narration: OfficiallyDevin (youtube.com/user/OfficiallyDevin)
00:00:00 - Why Middle-earth Is Dying
00:01:10 - Arda Marred and the Fading Light
00:05:04 - Tolkien’s Real-World Inspirations
00:08:15 - Why the Immortal Peoples Vanish
00:11:16 - The Ruins of Lost Glory
00:13:23 - Victory—and the End of Magic
Production Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com
#Lore #MiddleEarth #LordOfTheRings
