: : : So are there parallels between the World Wars and War in Middle Earth? I tend to think so, but only on a global scale. It seems to me to be impossible to distance onesself from your environment completely and thus Tolkien's work had to have been influenced at least somewhat by the turmoil around him, much of which was racially based.

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: : I think that the history of Gondor (ignoring the direct input of Sauron) has much in common with that of the Byzantine Empire. The parallels are fairly close, both states were culturally superior to most of their neighbours and were virtually continually embattled on two fronts. It isn't a great leap of the imagination to equate the Haradrim with the Saracens and the Balchoth, Wainriders with the Huns, Avars, Mongols or any other Asiatic steppe-nomad group. Both also accepted aid from the north - Rohirrim and Varangians.

: Gentleman, Tolkien himself said, he did not want any parallels to our world, except for the shire!!
: If you guys do think there are parallels, it is because you want to see them!!!!!! If IŽm trying to, IŽll always be able to see some of them.
: And just btw, Tolkien refused to authorize a German version of the Hobbit before WWII, because he didnŽt want it to be misinterpreted or abused by the NAZIS.
: Dr. Ennig

I don't know if it true, but I think Tolkien said ME is our world, but the historical period in which his story take place is imaginary. I don't understand why Tolkien has said that. It is just nonsense. If I remenber well, the end of the Third Age was just a several thousand years ago. But It cannot be possible. The lanscape cannot change so quickly.
I think ME had to be an completely separate world from ours.

Mordan