These videos are a great source for background information on the world of The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings, Middle-Earth. This is only part one of a two part video set to explain the mythology of Middle-Earth. The mythology is so rich and thought out by J.R.R. Tolkien that it's hard to believe it was created for a fantasy world in the books he wrote.

Knowing the mythology is not a must, but I thought it would provide some interesting background information before reading The Hobbit, which is the first book set in Middle-Earth. The book follows the hobbit Bilbo Baggins on his grand adventure with a company of dwarves to a dragon-infested mountain filled to the brim with gold and all sorts of priceless treasures. Hobbits don't usually go on adventures though, so Bilbo is considered strange for going with the dwarves and leaving his life of comfort in The Shire behind.