What counts as "canon"?

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by skip spence

I do find it anachronistic, yes. I did a quick google-search and found that the first true newspaper in English was from 1666. There are no doubt others here with more knowledge than I in these matters but I feel that the technological level of the world of LotR - with a few additional anachronisms excluded - much pre-dates the 17th century, although a direct comparison with actual history perhaps isn't advisable.

I don't know....The Shire seems to be more late 18th century or early 20th century to me, both in feel and in culture.

Though I have to say that maybe attaching real historical periods to different cultures in Tolkien's world is maybe not advisable in general, it being a fantasy world and all that. If you try and pin it down to one time frame something seems to slip out and stand out as being anachronistic.