What is East of Middle-Earth?

Explore the best of fantasy and sci-fi in depth, with analysis of the worlds of Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, The Witcher and more.

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[reallythatbad]

Before the video when someone asked me 'what's east of middle earth, ' I had to say 'I dunno'. Now I can say 'I dunno' but in a more nuanced way.

[josephnash]

I think being vague about the Eastern parts of Middle Earth was a creative decision by Tolkien that reflects his being a scholar of medieval literature. Both Greco-Roman and Medieval civilization knew that there were civilizations in India and China but had only uncertain knowledge of their geography and history.

[Yonkage-ikqb]

Nothing in Tolkien's writings ever feels "unfinished", just "unexplored". It doesn't feel like he simply never invented the whole history of Rhûn and it's peoples and its kings, but that he did and simply never told us about it.

[TorgerVedeler]

It seems to me that when one creates an imaginary world, having some parts of it be mysterious makes it all the better.

[awesomehpt]

Gotta be careful with easterlings! Otherwise they could Rhun your day!

[EstherHulst-Artist]

I Love that Faramir actually empathises with the Easterlings.he understands they to have families, wives children and friends.

After the battle with the Haradrim, Faramir says “The enemy? His sense of duty was no less than yours, I deem. You wonder what his name is, where he came from. And if he was really evil at heart. What lies or threats led him on this long march from home. If he would not rather have stayed there in peace. War will make corpses of us all.”

[Corleone]

Watching your videos is like walking in to a nice home heated by a fireplace after it's been raining outside. Your vocal delivery is so very pleasant and personal. Please never succumb to using AI voice like so many other channels. Between your narrative delivery, and your usage of photos from the films and also various Tolkien illustrations from books and calendars over the years, makes for a beautifully comprehensive overview of whichever subject you are tackling. You are simply the best Tolkien channel on YouTube. Keep up the good work. The road goes ever on.

[istari]

In his later writings, Tolkien change the story of the Blue Wizards, having them arrive in the 2nd Age and actually having a lot of success in disrupting Sauron's doings, so much so that without their efforts, Sauron would have conquered the Free Peoples well before the time of The War of the Ring. But Tolkien didn't tell us their ultimate fate.

[matthewanipen]

This makes sense. It's not 'East Asia' based on modern or even imperial European era terms, but rather how it was seen by Europe in the middle ages. Maybe some Marco Polo type folks took some journeys to Rhun, but otherwise it was like trying to travel to Mars.

[TheManOWrath]

So many channels like this, fiction or non, have voiceovers that just don't work.

Yours is spot-on.

[peterpayne]

I've been a JRR Tolkien fan for 45+ years and I can't believe the things I'm learning on this channel.

[BananaBlack]

Tolkien decided, in the end, to have the Blue Wizards succeed in their mission by having them working behind the scenes to ensure that the destruction of the ring was possible.

[host_theghost]

I've always had a lot of curiosity about Rhûn. The only mention we get of it is when Aragorn mentions that he's been to "Rhûn and far Harad where the stars are strange." It's a vaguely constructed sentence, but it sounds like some of Rhûn might be south of the equator. If so, that might tap into an unexplored part of Tolkien's own life experience. After all, he was born in the Orange Free State, where the stars are definitely strange (at least to us in the northern hemisphere).

[steamrll]

Thank you Robert, your Tolkien content is second to none. The time and effort you put into your work is plainly obvious. You are doing a really great job, friend.

[rubenlarochelle]

1:02 Totally did not expect that signature

[MartieD]

It would be awesome if someone unearthed a lost Tolkien map in some dusty archive with new places on it. That's my dream.

[JonnyHighTyde]

What is Gandalfs favorite insect?

Fly you Fools!!

[jeyfromnowhere]

Fonstad's Atlas is simply brilliant.

[feliciastaldotter]

Idk this is a hot take but I feel instead of telling new stories in the west of middle earth and like..retelling some stories, the east is an open field of creating history and explore things. Elves who never left, men who would possibly somewhat justifiably would view the dark lords as bringer of civilization, heroes of wars never heard of west of mordor. I get theres probsbly easier to get crowds with people we know, but feels like waste to not use idk

[Sabouma]

Whoa, these drawings and or paintings are amazing