Áistan: Lifestyle

Áistan: Lifestyle and Culture
As we read in The Hobbit, Men began moving into the upper Anduin vales “from the South” in the years before the Quest of Erebor (TH 102); these Northmen were likely descended from the prince Vidugavia’s ‘kingdom of Rhovanion’ from the 13th century TA, hence I use a Gothic name for this persona.

As a result of their recent migrations, I see their culture as having a strong frontier spirit. While there are villages of Men in the foothills of the Misty Mountains, I imagine those on the east side of the River closer to the West-eaves of Mirkwood are more isolated, living in a ‘network’ of homesteads or ‘stations’, instead of proper towns.

Áistan makes a living by foraging, hunting, and some farming, and offers his services as a guide, scout, or escort to the various groups of travelers, merchants, and craftsmen who pass through the area, often in exchange for goods from the South, East, and West – Tolkien thrice depicts Beornings helping travelers journeying between Mirkwood and the Misty Mountains (TH 132; FotR 256; UT 359).

While it may seem at first that the Anduin valley is a ‘middle of nowhere’ backwater, it is really quite well-connected to the rest of Middle-earth. The Great River itself allows for contact/trade with Gondor and possibly eastern Rohan ("...for light boats used to journey out of Wilderland down to Osgiliath, and still did so until a few years ago, when the Orcs of Mordor began to multiply.’” (FotR 438). “[Third Age] 3009: …the [Misty] Mountains and all lands eastward are becoming dangerous.''” (RotK 410).

This area is also adjacent to the ‘Old Forest Road’ (properly the Men-i-Naugrim) that serves to connect the Iron Hills/Erebor/Dale/Lake-town cultural sphere with Eriador, allowing for exchange of goods and services via dwarvish “agents”.

Another possible link to the outside world would be the wizard Radagast’s ‘home base’ at Rhosgobel (which likely would be known as Brownhay to a Westron speaker (History of Middle-Earth Volume 7 The Treason of Isengard: VIII – The Ring Goes South, Note 10).

While Aistan usually gets around upon his 'shanks mares', he sometimes takes to the local waterways in his dugout canoe: