[burrahobbit]

Middle-earth (LotR et al) exists in a fictional time period that never existed, some long time ago. It doesn't exactly fit anywhere, with all of the different cultures being drawn from more or less distinct and different time periods (ie the difference between Anglo-saxon Rohan and the Victorian Shire) The best guess is a few thousand years ago in western Europe. There are at least a couple threads out there that postulate that markers of the end of the Fourth Age. Probably they are worth reading if you are interested. I forget the exact details. I'm not in exactly a state to go find them (tired, caffeine) but they shouldn't be too difficult to suss out (search for seventh age/ 7th age).