The First Age lasted more than four thousand years and was a time of wonderful and terrible magic. The Overworld was filled with fantastic beings both small and large, the most amazing, were the Centennials. Elves roamed the forests, dwarves underground, gnomes and fairies in the plains and dragons flying overhead. Although men did exist during the First Age, they lived in small groups, often within civilizations of other beings. Closer to the end of the First Age, men began forming their own cities and multiplying at a tremendous rate.
The First Age officially ended when Ruh, the final Centennial departed the Overworld.