The world does not consist of Europe alone. Huge amounts of trade, exploration, and colonization are happening with various other continents and regions. Most of these areas will be "filled in" as the player characters have cause to learn more information.
India
India is ruled by the Mughal (alternately, Mogul) Empire, and many of the great powers are engaging in trade and attempting colonization. The Indian peninsula is bordered on the west by the Arabian Sea, and on the east by the Bay of Bengal. Major European presences in India are the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company. The Mughal Empire is attempting to exert control over the trade coming into their company, but the two great corporations are doing their best to avoid recognizing the shows of authority.
China
Most of China is ruled by the Qing Dynasty. They are led by the Kangxi Emperor. Many Jesuit missionaries come to China seeking to convert their people to Christianity, but the Pope has recently declared that Chinese rites and the gifts to their Emperor are tantamount to idolatry and incompatible with Catholicism. Kangxi is keen on Western technology, and the Jesuits are helping him to understand astronomy, gunpowder, and various other scientific advancements - magic among them. Kangxi has issued an edict of toleration for Christianity.
North America
Great Britain, France, and Spain all fight for control of the North American continent. There have been numerous wars among them, with the various nations laying claim to vast tracts of land that few people have seen. Mixed in with all of this are the Native Americans (Indians or Red Indians), who war against the Europeans and among themselves. North America is also home to the herbivorous minotaurs, who live in small, quiet tribes. North America ships large quantities of raw materials to Europe, as part of the triangular trade.
Africa
In the south and west of Africa, various small tribes wage war against each other. In the north, Muslim empires and nation states retain control. The Ottoman Empire holds much of the southern Mediterranean, though the nations under its control are semi-autonomous. Many missionaries travel to the uncivilized parts of Africa, hoping to spread Christianity to the natives, but they find less luck there than in China. Many slaves are taken from western Africa, which is part of the triangular trade.
Caribbean
The home of gold and fertile lands, the Caribbean is the prize jewel of colonialism. The Spanish have one of the largest presences there, having worked to decimate both the Incan and Aztec Empires. The Caribbean, along with northern South America, is the largest consumer of slaves in the world. This labor is put towards the production of cocoa, tobacco, and a number of other luxury goods. The Caribbean is also home to world's greatest gold mines, the European mines having been stripped of the most valuable veins long ago.
South America
In terms of colonies, South America is mostly dominated by Spain and Portugal. Above and beyond anything else, South America is known for the huge quantities of gold which come out of its mines, and which were seized from the natives. The Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans have all been wiped out, their remnants under control of Spain. Numerous artifacts remain in South America however, ripe for plundering, and there is much talk of the warforged - moving statues which have been brought over from the Mesoamerican nations.
Australia
It has been discovered, and mapped, but no one yet sees any use in colonizing this vast expanse of poor soil. The biggest problem with colonizing Australia is that the winds don't move right for it. The easiest place to get to from Australia is the western coast of South America, which is has no colonies either. Unlike India, which has spices, textiles, and various other goods, there is no great prize in Australia worth making the difficult journey for.
