In A Song of Ice & Fire novels by George R.R. Martin, and in three decades of expanding his world, the prolific fantasy author has left very few stones unturned in establishing the context for the various cultures that inhabit it. Understanding Martin's in-world historical context is crucial to understanding his central narratives, as events in the past often echo events in ASOIAF.

One of the common critiques of the Game of Thrones ending was that the television adaptation began to neglect essential world-building elements. Throughout the series, characters in House Stark, for example, will mention having the blood of the First Men, which may sound like nonsense without needed context. Jorah Mormont is referred to as "Jorah the Andal," a confusing title without the needed historical background. The details are paramount in George R.R. Martin's world, and understanding the foundations of Westerosi culture can help contextualize the behavior of someone like Ned Stark.

The First Men Explained

The First Human Inhabitants Of Westeros

Who They Were: The First Men are perhaps the most self-explanatory of the three cultural groups in Westeros, as they were the first civilization to take foot on the continent. Their early histories are purposefully obscured in Martin's text, as much of it was so long ago that it's ed into legend. However, it's assumed that The First Men migrated west from Essos via Dorne, which once connected the continents by land, and settled throughout the continent.

When They Came To Westeros: Roughly 12,000 BC

Years in Westeros are counted similarly to the real world, using BC and AC. They stand for Before and After Conquest, referring to Aegon's Conquest. Game of Thrones begins in 298 AC.

Notable Events: Early in their time in Westeros, the First Men waged war against the children of the forest before eventually agreeing to peace known as the Pact. The following period was known as the Age of Heroes, where notable legends like Bran the Builder constructed the Wall and Winterfell and Lann the Clever, who stole Casterly Rock from the Casterlys. The First Men and the children of the forest fought against the White Walkers in the Battle for the Dawn, defeating them.

What Happened To The First Men & Which Houses Are Descended From Them: While much of the culture of the First Men is diluted in Westeros, it'd be hard to find a citizen who doesn't carry their blood. They can be found most easily in the North, where the old gods of the First Men are still proudly worshiped by Houses like Stark and Karstark. Cultural groups like the Free Folk and the Vale Mountain tribes are also descended from the First Men.

The Andals Explained

The Andals Invaded Westeros And Established Much Of The Lasting Culture

Who They Were: The Andals were an ethnic group that invaded Westeros from northern Essos. Like the First Men, who initially fought the children of the forest, the Andals fought the established kingdoms of the First Men, beginning a violent assault on the continent in the Vale. They destroyed weirwood trees and killed children of the forest, bringing forth the Faith of the Seven in place of the old gods.

When They Came To Westeros: Between 6,000 and 4,000 BC.

The Dothraki refer to Jorah Mormont as "Jorah the Andal." However, it's unclear whether House Mormont is of Andal background.

Notable Events: The Andals waged war on the continent of Westeros for hundreds of years before finally settling in through conquering or marriage alliances. The Kingdom of the North, led by House Stark, was the only territory to resist the Andals, stopping them at one of the strongest castles in Westeros, Moat Cailin.

What Happened To The Andals & Which Houses Are Descended From Them: The integration of Andals established much of the continent as it's known to Game of Thrones, particularly in the South, where citizens worship the Faith of the Seven. Much of Westerosi history was written after the Andal invasion, further enforcing their cultural dominance.

The Rhoynar Explained

The Rhoynar Helped Unify Dorne

Who They Were: The Rhoynar are the third ethnic group to reach Westeros, coming from a culture that once lived along the Rhoyne river in Essos. The Rhoynar were forced to flee their land due to centuries of conflict with the Valyrian Freehold, causing them to migrate to Dorne.

When They Came To Westeros: Roughly 700 BC

Notable Events: The Rhoynar were known in legend for arriving in Westeros in ten thousand ships under the leadership of Queen Nymeria of the Rhoynar. This is going to be the subject of one of the planned Game of Thrones spinoff shows. Nymeria and the Rhoynar then helped Mors Martell unify Dorne in Nymeria's War, establishing the region as it would be known in Game of Thrones.

What Happened To The Rhoynar & Which Houses Are Descended From Them: While not as prominent as the Andals, the Rhoynar are well integrated into Dornish society and are the reason why Dornish rulers go by Prince and Princess rather than Lord and Lady.

Why Did Game Of Thrones Cut The Rhoynar? In the book, the title for the monarch of Westeros is "King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men," while Game of Thrones omits the mention of the Rhoynar. This was likely to avoid complexity for TV viewers, as the adaptation barely ventured into Dorne.