By the request of a Vala here (forget which one) I have been asked to start a topic about the maps of Tolkien's world. Therefore I am doing so and I will use the maps displayed on Tolkien Forums:

The First map you can see a map of How Arda looked in the Very beginning, when the Ainur first Descended into Ea. You can see the Great Lake, the Isle of Almaren and the Pillars of Light Illuin and Ormal.

The Second map you can see how Arda looked just after Melkor returned from the Outer Darkness and assailed the Pillars of Light. Notice how Middle-earth now splits into three and gains its characteristic appearance. However it is not full wrought until the following map:

The third map we can see how Arda looked in the First Age when the Noldor retrurn to Middle-earth in Exile (this being when the First Age actually begins). Notice it is far more how we would expect a world to look (the continents have lost there block like shape).

The last map we can see how Arda looked in the Second Age. The obvious differences being that there is now no way to reach Aman from Middle-earth on foot. Also we notice the Great Isle of Numenor.

FIRST MAP:
http://www.tolkienforums.com/Map%20of%20original%20Arda.bmp

SECOND MAP:
http://www.tolkienforums.com/map%20of%20arda%20after%20pillers.bmp

THIRD MAP:
http://www.tolkienforums.com/first%20age%20Arda%20map.gif

FOURTH MAP:
http://www.tolkienforums.com/map%20of%20Arda.jpg


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i've found a map too. it shows the world during the first age. i think it's quite good but see yourselves.

http://www.fantasylands.net/varie-cose/MAP_OF_ARDA.JPEG

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><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><

I have seen that map before to. Unfortunately its completely inaccurate. It looks ok though.

Oh yeah I've seen that map too Eruhin. It looks good, but I fear I have to agree with Lord of All that it's inaccurate.

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[!+~^$#&:;]

could you also tell me why?? i'm also wondering what Hyarmenor and east land mean because i can't recall any information about sth like them...

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><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><

Take a look at the official maps I provided. There is veryu little resemblance between the other map and them. I believe it is simply artwork whereas the official ones come from Karen Wynn Fonstadd's 'The Atlas of Tolkien's middle-earth'.

The East Land is also called the 'Lands of Sun' and the 'Gates of Morning'. The highest mountain in this land is called Kalorme, highest mluntain in the world save only Taniquetil. If you want proof that they exist then here are some quotes on the link I have provided:

http://tolkienforums.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=77580&p=3&topicID=7012816

As for the Dark South land that used to be a part of Middl-earth itself until it was broken off and formed a seperate continent after the War of the Powers when Melkor was taken captive to Valinor.

is the land in the south then only peopled by ungoliant?

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><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><

The Dark South land and the Lands of sun were isolated by themselves and you could only get to them by boat. The only known incident we have of this is the Numenoreans sailed to them from there western Islnad.

Ungoliant originally dwelt in Southern Aman but after she helped Melkor achive vengeance she fled back to middle-earth and into Beleriand (Valinor and Middle-earth were connected in the First Age by the Helcaraxe, Grinding Ice, so it was possible to walk from one to the other).
What became of her then is unknown. Some say she consumed herself at last, whislt others say she fled into the far south of Middle-earth (not the lands East of it).

We are told that the Lands East of middle-earth were empty.

thank for pointing that out, oh lord of all!

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><>Son of God, brother of Jesus. I've got the best family I could have imagined! Saved by his mercy and love. What else could I wish for?<><