[Marileangorifurnimaluim]

Ah, MotWold, you must study your Middle Earth history to address some of these questions.

Numenor is an echo of the British Empire and the legends of Atlantis. Note the domination of Middle Earth by a superior naval force, and strong indications of coastal trade (especially to the South and up the Anduin), as well as less-than-savory dealings with Harad under the leadership of Ar-Pharazon, reminiscent of Africa and the British Raj.

The fact that Numenor so easily dominated Middle Earth, despite their limited presence there indicates that their combination of Elvish 'technology' (the Palantiri for example) and abilities as shipwrights, made them considerably more advanced than the other cultures of Middle Earth. Though someone had to have brought the goods to the Anduin ports to trade with Numenor.

I propose that the culture of the majority of Middle Earth is Iron Age, while the Elves brought the culture of Numenor up to the standard of Victorian England. I think it likely that anomalies of Middle Earth, paper, tea, etc., are from Numenor (and indirectly from the western Elves.

With the fall of Numenor, the development of Middle Earth radically changed. The influence of Numenor spread as powerful Numenorian refugees displaced the indigenous people of Middle Earth. They carved out the north kingdom (near Bree) bequeated land to the Shire hobbits in exchange for fealty, and of course created a much larger kingdom to the south, Gondor.

After the last battle of elves and men, Gondor bequeated to Eorl the Young the kingdom of Rohan, displacing the Dunlanders; Gondor further remapped Middle Earth to suit themselves.

Immediately after the fall of Numenor, trade with Harad actually increased, though Numenor's naval presence slowly declined. There was a sort of golden age for Middle Earth, although Numenor meerely attempted to (unsuccessfully) recreate what they lost. They clung to their traditions and behaved much like the last vestiges of the Roman Empire in England, spreading the luxuries, styles and habits of their lost kingdom as it crumbled around them.

A further indication of Gondor's influence on trade was the fact the North-South road was established and maintained by the North kingdom. The location of Amon Sul (Weathertop) indicates they also guarded the East-West road as well (The Hobbit and FOTR suggests that the East-West road was very old however, and primarily used by the dwarves).

As Gondor declined, so did trade, though other factors effected it as well (Smaug is a good example, and the influence of the Beornings on the trade routes their lands controlled). The rangers, the last decendents of the northern kingdom continued their 'job' of policing the remainders of their kingdom. At, of course, a diminished capacity. So the influence of Numenor remained, though unrecognized.

-Maril