Why do you think Middle Earth is set in a Medieval setting?
I dont mean why is it set in medieval times. It is set there for various reasons such as because Tolkien wanted it set there.
What I mean is, the third age is 3000 years, the second age is approximately that as well, and I cant recall how long the first age went for. So at least 6000 years of human existence, to be safe (I am not too familiar with the Silmarillion and timings).
Humanity seems to start its existence of in a medieval state of society and technology. Using bows, swords, armour, boats, castles, etc.
3000 or so years later Sauron is defeated in the Battle of the last alliance and they are still using the same tech. 3000 years later and they are STILL using the same tech.
In the real world, the medieval period didnt last that long. We had the ancient Kingdoms with Egypt Greece and Rome, and then the west had medieval Europe, which lasted less than 2000 years. And Middle earth societies should logically be compared to european and British medieval societies because those are what they are most closely based on. And one would think would follow something of a similar timeline.
But instead middle earth seems to keep repeating. Or regressing, as it is the ancient societies that were superior at craftwork and the latter areas have lost or are losing the learning. Such as Numenorean craft vs modern Gondor craft.
Other fantasy stories can get away with it I think. Harry Potter for instance, it makes sense that the wizarding world is stuck in a medieval setting because with Magic, wizards didnt need to keep inventing stuff. So they kept what they had and magic can solve the rest of their problems. Muggles, who dont have magic need to keep inventing things to accomplish their needs.
But while magic exist in middle earth it isnt doesnt serve the same purpose. The men in Gondor arent just whipping out their wands and turning lights on at night.
So what are your thoughts? The best i can come up with is that there is no China with Gunpowder to trade with (it is a very tiny world compared to ours) or that there was never any Thomas edison in Middle Earth, or that they natural resources that encourage invention.
It just seems to me to be an awful long time for human, elf and dwarf societies to be stuck in the same technological setting.
I dont mean why is it set in medieval times. It is set there for various reasons such as because Tolkien wanted it set there.
What I mean is, the third age is 3000 years, the second age is approximately that as well, and I cant recall how long the first age went for. So at least 6000 years of human existence, to be safe (I am not too familiar with the Silmarillion and timings).
Humanity seems to start its existence of in a medieval state of society and technology. Using bows, swords, armour, boats, castles, etc.
3000 or so years later Sauron is defeated in the Battle of the last alliance and they are still using the same tech. 3000 years later and they are STILL using the same tech.
In the real world, the medieval period didnt last that long. We had the ancient Kingdoms with Egypt Greece and Rome, and then the west had medieval Europe, which lasted less than 2000 years. And Middle earth societies should logically be compared to european and British medieval societies because those are what they are most closely based on. And one would think would follow something of a similar timeline.
But instead middle earth seems to keep repeating. Or regressing, as it is the ancient societies that were superior at craftwork and the latter areas have lost or are losing the learning. Such as Numenorean craft vs modern Gondor craft.
Other fantasy stories can get away with it I think. Harry Potter for instance, it makes sense that the wizarding world is stuck in a medieval setting because with Magic, wizards didnt need to keep inventing stuff. So they kept what they had and magic can solve the rest of their problems. Muggles, who dont have magic need to keep inventing things to accomplish their needs.
But while magic exist in middle earth it isnt doesnt serve the same purpose. The men in Gondor arent just whipping out their wands and turning lights on at night.
So what are your thoughts? The best i can come up with is that there is no China with Gunpowder to trade with (it is a very tiny world compared to ours) or that there was never any Thomas edison in Middle Earth, or that they natural resources that encourage invention.
It just seems to me to be an awful long time for human, elf and dwarf societies to be stuck in the same technological setting.