Three things that saved the world.

THE YEAR

Many things happened in the year 2980 TA. But there are three main events which affected the War of the Ring.

1.

Gollum finally made his way to Mordor and became acquainted with Shelob. This is of course pivotal, because it was this acquaintance that ultimately got Frodo and Sam into Mordor, against Gollum’s wishes of course.

2.
A small, but important event: Theoden became king of Rohan.

3.

And of course, one of the most important events ever, the birth of Samwise Gamgee. As everyone knows, Frodo would have died before he even reached the Dead Marshes if it hadn't been for Sam. And of course, if Frodo had died and Gollum had taken the Ring, where would the rest of Middle Earth be? Without Sam, all of the free folk would have become dead or slaves of Sauron. Three cheers for Samwise!!

Also, in the year 2980 TA was Aragorn’s second meeting with Arwen Undómiel in Lórien. It was on the hill of Cerin Amroth that Aragorn gave Arwen the ring of Barahir and they “plighted their troth” as it were. This is interesting, because in the movie, a big deal is made about Aragorn and the ring of Barahir, when Worm-tongue sees it. But Aragorn wouldn't have had the ring then, because he had given it to Arwen Undómiel long ago. 

THE DAY

October 6th, 3018 TA, Frodo was stabbed on Weathertop by the Witch King. The only note on that is that Frodo, while seemingly healed by Elrond, still feels pain in his shoulder every October 6th.