Currently, this is by far, the largest empire I have ever had. A few more years and I'll have Naval Drydocks fully built in Leon and Cordoba. The year is 1499, and while scientists within the known world were just drooling over the new world, the premier factions were dueling it out for pieces of the old East.
When Columbus discovered America, I was defending Constantinople from a Crusade. When word came of the Aztech people, I was destroying the remains of the South Saharan rebellion. And when the last nations on Earth were desperately making their way out to the new world, I made sure they never left the old world.
There you have it, 100 years into the discovery of the Americas and I've just captured Spain and West Africa. I know a few have made it thus far, but I am the latest.
By same time tomorrow morning, the entire world will have fallen.
P.S...Rhodes did rebel.