What parts of the world were known to europeans before age exploration?

1. Mediterranean Basin: This was the hub of European civilizations, including ancient Greece, Rome, and the Byzantine Empire. Phoenician and Greek traders navigated the Mediterranean Sea and established trading posts along the coasts of North Africa and the Middle East.

2. Western Asia: The Middle East region, including Mesopotamia, Persia, and Anatolia, was known to Europeans through trade and cultural exchanges with the Greeks and Romans. The Silk Road, a network of trade routes connecting Europe with China, also passed through Western Asia.

3. Parts of North Africa: The northern coast of Africa, particularly Egypt and Carthage (present-day Tunisia), was known to Europeans since ancient times. The famous Egyptian civilization flourished along the banks of the Nile River and had diplomatic relations with the Greeks and Romans.

4. Sub-Saharan Africa: Although the interior and southern parts of Africa were relatively unexplored, some knowledge about coastal areas, such as the Aksumite Kingdom (in present-day Ethiopia) and the Ghana Empire in West Africa, was known to Europeans through trade and travel accounts.

5. Eastern Europe and Scandinavia: The Vikings of Scandinavia had extensive knowledge of the northern European coastline and even explored parts of the North Atlantic, reaching Iceland and Greenland. Their seafaring skills facilitated trade and exploration within Scandinavia and beyond.

6. Central and Eastern Asia: The Silk Road facilitated knowledge exchange between Europe and Central and Eastern Asia, including the Chinese Empire, India, and Persia. However, Europeans' understanding of these regions was limited, as they were primarily dependent on second-hand accounts from travelers and merchants.

It's important to note that while Europeans had knowledge of these regions, their understanding was often incomplete, fragmented, and based on ancient geographers' writings, travelogues, and accounts from merchants. The Age of Exploration, which began in the 15th century, led to a significant expansion of European knowledge of the world through direct exploration and colonization.