I stand corrected Zacsmaster....lol And BrainsMonkeys....this is a question and answer site, people can ask whatever they want and shouldn't be made to feel ignorant....don't you think?
"Middle Earth" is a direct translation into English of the Old Norse "Midgard" - the name given to the world of men (the world we all inhabit) in Norse (i.e. Viking) mythology. Concepts such as dwarves and elves also have their origins in the Norse myths, upon which Tolkien drew heavily for inspiration.
Cheers