The unknowns of middle-earth.

[Rumil]

Hi Paradus,

not a lot is known about the East, here are a few snippets I can remember offhand,

There should be four dwarven civilizations in the red and yellow mountains that are off the map to the East, based on the story of the awakening of the dwarves. Some of them (but few) were apparently allied to Sauron in the Second Age but all sent contingents to help out in the war of the Dwarves and Orcs.

Dorwinion is near the Sea of Rhun, presumably human-run and makes the wine that the wood-elves prized.

Khand is the country just South-East of Mordor - inhabited by humans, who sent a contingent to fight for Sauron at the Pelennor Fields, but nothing much else is known.

The blue wizards went to the East (and Saruman for a bit) but little is known of their activities, perhaps starting cults or opposing Sauron.

As well as Umbar there are probably cities founded by the Numenoreans further to the South - these are presumably inhabited by mixtures of Haradrim and the remnants of the 'King's Men' of Numenor.

As for the elves, there might be Avari wandering around almost anywhere, but iirc Cuivenen has gone.

In JRRT's early writings there are mentions of pygmies and ogres, maybe they are off the map somewhere. Bilbo mentioned wild were-worms in the last desert in the east of the east, but undoubtendly not from personal experience!