Accursed Years

The Accursed Years, also known as the Dark Years or Black Years is the period extending throughout most of the Second Age. It covers the later part of the Second Age - It begins at approximately the 1000st year, when Sauron took up home in Mordor and built Barad-dûr, The rings of power were forged in Eregion by the High-elves of Celebrimbor's House and lastly Sauron forged the One Ring and created the Nazgûl. This era is when Sauron won the War of the Elves and Sauron as well as when he conquered large sections of Middle-earth and enslaved numerous of its inhabitants (the Numenor were growing in power during this time). The end of the Accursed Years -nearly 2000 years later- was when the Last Alliance conquered him and Isildur took up the One Ring.