I've noticed that some people who watch or read Game of thrones don't fully understand the lore and history behind it. I'm hoping i can give a clearer understanding of everything that has happened leading up to the events of a song of ice and fire.
The Dawn Age Before Men crossed the broken arm which connected the two lands of Westeros and Essos the world was a much more primitive place. In Essos uncivilized tribes of many peoples roamed the land while in Westeros only two existed the giants and the children of the forest. The two species lived uneasily amongst one another. Giants were huge and powerful creatures but simple unlike the children who were small but much more intelligent. They lived crude lives but less than giants and worked no metals but could reshape obsidian (dragon glass). The obsidian was used to make hunting weapons as well as carve faces in weirwood trees which was to give eyes to there gods the so called Old Gods or nameless ones. These would later be worshipped by another people ones who would unite the Giants and children against greater dangers.
The Coming Of The First Men Anywhere from eight thousand to twelve thousand years ago a land bridge formed connecting the tip of Dorne to the lands of Essos. It was here that the First Men crossed to Westeros the reason for there crossing is all but lost. The First Men came in huge numbers. They began to farm the lands and soon came into conflict with the children of the forest. Unlike the children, the first men chopped down weirwood trees including those with faces to construct ringforts and villages. The children attacked them but they were no match for there horses and weapons of bronze. They tried everything including warging into direwolves, snowbears, lions and eagles, mammoths and serpents but the first men were too powerful. The children seeing they could not win and the first men tired of war led to a pact between the two. The pact stated all lands of Westeros except the deep forests would be handed to the first men, it was also stated that they would no longer cut down the weirwoods and begin to worship the gods. With the pact signed the Dawn Age came to an end and so began....
The Age Of Heroes Lasting thousands of years the age of heroes was a time in which kingdoms and houses rose and fell. In time some would prove to be stronger than the rest forging the seeds of the Seven Kingdoms. Many famous names arose during this time names such as Brandon the builder, Garth Greenhand, Lann the Clever, and Durran Godsgreif whether the legends surrounding these names are true or simply fantasy is unknown. However this golden time in humanity would not last and all good things must end. As the realms of Westeros began to take shape a long winter was brewing......
(note:for part 2 see my next post)