Fictional time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth.
Ages: Second Age - Third Age - Fourth Age
The Third Age began after the downfall of Sauron, when he was defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men following the downfall of Númenor.
This age was characterized by waning of the Elves, the rise and decline of the exiled Númenorean kingdoms, and the slow recovery of Sauron's power.
It lasted for 3021 years, until Sauron was again defeated, this time finally, when his Ruling Ring was destroyed. When the Ringbearers left Middle-earth for the Uttermost West, the Fourth Age began.
wikipedia.org dumped 2003-03-17 with terodump