WI: Existence of the New World common knowledge in the Middle Ages?

Africa might be an interesting parallel here. It was well known and there were buckets of gold, but the Europeans didn't go in with any urgency. The Portuguese didn't even bother to settle the Cape. America will be to the Europeans much like Africa was.
It wasn't that well known. There was some commerce in Guinea in the 1360's but stopped rapidly.

It wasn't til 1440 that the Cap Bojador off Morocco was crossed again. Even then, there was no rush.
Big money was in the Levant trade
 
It wasn't that well known. There was some commerce in Guinea in the 1360's but stopped rapidly.

It wasn't til 1440 that the Cap Bojador off Morocco was crossed again. Even then, there was no rush.
Big money was in the Levant trade

I mean its existence was well known. In response to the "someone would've explored America just because" line of thinking.
 
I mean its existence was well known. In response to the "someone would've explored America just because" line of thinking.
Ok. They knew there was an Africa and that there was gold and black people in it yeah. There'd probably be similar level of knowledge at best
 
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