The White Council

Re: Eriador in T.A 3017

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: : : : So, here's a question. : : If The Shire, Bree-land and the wandering rangers are the only indigeonus population of Eriador at the end of the Third Age (just before the War of the Ring), how did they survive (personally I think other villages must have existed) - in terms of economic system (Barliman paid 30 silver pennies ofr a pony - where's the mint, did trade come up from the South, who traded with who. What was the birtrate amogst the Men of Bree - in a thousand years, they could've swelled and filled villages in parts of Eriador (which fits with the 'no other men had settled dwellings.... line, as they were from Bree stock). : : Just thought I'd try nad get youre thoughts on the social and economic set up of these lonely lands. What was the political set up etc.

: : Dave

: I believe that other towns and villages did exist in Western and Southern Eriador. Especially along the East-West road, and to a lessor degree along the North-South Road. Their lack of mention in the story, or location on the maps, does not automatically mean they didn't exist. Cities, towns and villages that played some part in the history of Middle are mentioned and located. Those that played little, or no part, are not.

There would certainly have had to have been more than just the inn where the Forsken inn stood. Somewhere they would have gotten their food etc.

: Since no king actively governed the lands of men and hobbits, each town would have its own govenment. Laws and form of govenment would no doubt be based on the those that existed at the time of the old kingdom , with each town having its own specific local offices and laws. The laws of a larger town might encompass one or more villages nearby.

: Since no centralized government existed, no official mint existed and larger towns would probably mint their own coins, perhaps using old kingdom coins as a model/quality control. An unknown number old kingdom coins would still exist, as would Dwarven and perhaps Elven coins. Those coins in conjunction with local coinage, and barter, would form the economic structure.