What of the East?

I realize the east of Middle Earth is of little relevance, however I still wonder -- what is there and what is its role in history. Did anything ever happen there? From the looks of it, it seems to be a pretty boring place, geographically. Does anybody know anything about this place?

(A good map of Middle Earth -- including the east: http://lotrmaps.middle-earth.us/maps/r3t_M106.jpg)

[Legolas]

That's where both men and elves awoke in the early years of Arda. That's also where the Blue Wizards went exploring and were never heard from again.

[Olorin_TLA]

Various invasions to Gondor came from the East, and since they were from various races, many of whom were only seen for the 1st time in the 3rd Age, it would seem that there was a lot of war in the East itself.

[Gurthang]

It was enormous. And big. Gondor was attacked many times, and like Legolas said, that's where the Children of Iluvitar awoke. The men who stayed their divided into many diverse races, and spread to the south and farther east(if possible). When they came West, they met the men of Westernesse, and were always thrown back. Other than that, nothing is known.

[Tar-Alcarin]

yea, there are many differnent races, like Variag and wainriders. Ok those arent really east, east but they are still from the east. Ulfang the Black easterling in the first age betrayed the other men and went into the east. They first started the line of Easterlings,

[Olorin_TLA]

The Easterlings in the 3rd Age were actually many different races of people, just like the Haradrim.

And the ones in the 1st Age were different oto, seeing as anyone from where Gondor, the Shire, Arnor, etc would later exist would be an Easterling in the eyes of the characters of the Silmarillion in Beleriand. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[Gil-numen]

The east probably had Avar elves, dwarves, and men because most races awoke in the far east.

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Thingol to Beren