Did lord of rings really happened?

All I know about Europe history is, Rome and Greece. But when I read Davinci Code book, I realized that there is something more than these two kingdoms.

Then my interest increased when I watched the Lord of Rings movie.

I think most of us in the present world, know only what happend in Europe after Christanity came into existance.

But, did any one know what kind of civiliztions and cultures used to be there around Europe? And what the inhabitants used to do? What are their religions? How they used to live?