The population in Middle Earth - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

ninja91 · 09-30-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

Maybe if Middle-earth would have more people then it would get over crowded, and thats not what Tolkien wanted...just a thought.

True. One of his themes in his works was the defense of nature, and how it is ever-important.

The Might · 09-30-2007, 04:23 PM

So what?
Tolkien said that if we were to consider M-e really existed then it would be about 6000 years between the Fall of Barad-dur and modern times.

So that means 4000 BC.
Now I dunno how many people lived in Europe back then during the Bronze Age or whatever age but I doubt there were many.

So that it makes sense that after much reproduction we now have all these millions that all originate from those first 1 - 2 millions. Of course in this case the Elves (who anyway were only very few) and Dwarves (same goes for them) don't count.

Meriadoc1961 · 09-30-2007, 07:45 PM

Gondor was founded by the Numenoreans, a race that lived thrice that of other mortal men. Therefore, it would stand to reason that a longer lived race would not have to reproduce itself so quickly as a race that does not live as long.

Rohan was founded by a race of people who emigrated from the north. There may have been many more people still there, plus we do not know how many people inhabited the lands to the east and to the south.

Additionally, I believe the plague decimated much of the population of the Rohirrim that also coincided with the Fell Winter.

But I could be wrong.

Merry

The Might · 09-30-2007, 08:02 PM

No, you are quite right.
One can notice how low Gondor's population was (as a result of all the wars, plagues and all that) since that is why they gave up Calenardhon in the first place, and since also Minas Tirith still had room for many more during the War of the Ring.

And indeed the Rohirrim were brought close to extinction by the Long Winter.

Interesting would be to know how many Hobbits lived in the Shire, they were also severely affected by calamities like the Fell Winter, but they little to do with wars, and we know some had quite many children.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 09-30-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Might

Interesting would be to know how many Hobbits lived in the Shire, they were also severely affected by calamities like the Fell Winter, but they little to do with wars, and we know some had quite many children.

Like Old Took

Thinlómien · 10-01-2007, 02:38 AM

One more thing to take into account is that maybe not every single city is not marked on the maps, just the big or important ones.

William Cloud Hicklin · 10-01-2007, 07:43 AM

It's not far off compared to the Middle Ages: just before the Black Death, the biggest city in Europe was Paris (perhaps 200,000) followed by London (half that). No other town in England exceeded the size of Bristol or Norwich, approx. 40,000.

09-30-2007, 04:23 PM	#2
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	So what? Tolkien said that if we were to consider M-e really existed then it would be about 6000 years between the Fall of Barad-dur and modern times. So that means 4000 BC. Now I dunno how many people lived in Europe back then during the Bronze Age or whatever age but I doubt there were many. So that it makes sense that after much reproduction we now have all these millions that all originate from those first 1 - 2 millions. Of course in this case the Elves (who anyway were only very few) and Dwarves (same goes for them) don't count. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

09-30-2007, 07:45 PM	#3
Meriadoc1961 Wight Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 101	Gondor was founded by the Numenoreans, a race that lived thrice that of other mortal men. Therefore, it would stand to reason that a longer lived race would not have to reproduce itself so quickly as a race that does not live as long. Rohan was founded by a race of people who emigrated from the north. There may have been many more people still there, plus we do not know how many people inhabited the lands to the east and to the south. Additionally, I believe the plague decimated much of the population of the Rohirrim that also coincided with the Fell Winter. But I could be wrong. Merry __________________ "If I yawn again, I shall split at the ears!"

09-30-2007, 08:02 PM	#4
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	No, you are quite right. One can notice how low Gondor's population was (as a result of all the wars, plagues and all that) since that is why they gave up Calenardhon in the first place, and since also Minas Tirith still had room for many more during the War of the Ring. And indeed the Rohirrim were brought close to extinction by the Long Winter. Interesting would be to know how many Hobbits lived in the Shire, they were also severely affected by calamities like the Fell Winter, but they little to do with wars, and we know some had quite many children. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

10-01-2007, 02:38 AM	#6
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	One more thing to take into account is that maybe not every single city is not marked on the maps, just the big or important ones. __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

10-01-2007, 07:43 AM	#7
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	It's not far off compared to the Middle Ages: just before the Black Death, the biggest city in Europe was Paris (perhaps 200,000) followed by London (half that). No other town in England exceeded the size of Bristol or Norwich, approx. 40,000. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.