"It is said by the Eldar that Men came into the world in the time of the Shadow of Morgoth, and fell swiftly under his dominion; for he sent his emissaries among them, and they listen to his evil and cunning words, and they worshipped the Darkness and yet feared it. But there were some some that turned from evil and left the lands of their kindred, and wandered ever westward; for they had heard a rumour that in the West there was a light which the Shadow could not dim. The servants of Morgoth pursued them with hatred, and their ways were long and hard; yet they came at last to the lands that look upon the Sea, and they entered Beleriand in the days of the War of Jewels. The Edain these were named in the Sindarin tongue; and they became friends and allies of the Eldar, and did deeds of great valour in the war against Morgoth."

"In the Great Battle when at last Morgoth was overthrown and Thangorodrim was broken, the Edain alone of the kindreds of Men fought for the Valar, whereas many others fought for Morgoth[...]A land was made to the Edain to dwell in, neither part of Middle-earth nor of Valinor, for it was sundered from either by a wide sea; yet it was nearer to Valinor. It was raised by Ossë out of the depths of the Great Water, and it was established by Aulë and enriched by Yavanna; and the Eldar brought thither flowers and fountains out of Tol Eressëa. That land the Valar called Andor, the Land of Gift; and the Star if Eårendil shone bright in the West as a token that all was made ready, and as a guide over the sea; and Men marvelled to see that silver flame in the paths of the Sun."

                           Akallabeth

    Men that dwelt therein became accounted the mightiest of the Mortal races. Such is and was Numenor. Yet the Numenoreans, in love with the World for all the fair things within it, have now grown corrupt, and only a few are now faithful to the old alliance with the Elves and the Valar. Rather, the wont of the people is to expand their power over the seas and over the lands of Middle-earth. Now has the hour come to join the mighty Sea-Kings on their quest for glory, wealth and power. Come to Numenor, the ships are sailing!