Most of J.R.R. Tolkien’s major stories take place in the fictional land called Middle-earth.
Middle-earth is the setting for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, as well as much of The Silmarillion. It is not the entire planet in Tolkien’s mythology; rather, it is the central inhabited region of Arda during the periods covered by those stories. Tolkien adapted the term from older Germanic and Old English expressions for the human world.
The geography of Middle-earth includes regions such as the Shire, Gondor, Mordor, Rohan, and Mirkwood. These places belong to different historical eras and cultures, but they are connected by Tolkien’s elaborate chronology, languages, and genealogies.
Valinor, Númenor, and Beleriand are also important Tolkien locations, which can cause confusion. Valinor lies in the Undying Lands, Númenor is an island kingdom, and Beleriand is a region largely destroyed before the events of The Lord of the Rings.