Where was the populated world located at the time of the Exodus?
At the time of the Exodus, the populated world was located along the Mediterranean area, extending into the Middle East, and possibly reaching as far as China. The context stresses that all these people were pagan worshipers, and Israel alone had knowledge of the one true God.
Les explains that at the time of the Exodus, the populated earth was along the Mediterranean area and into the Middle East, and maybe on out to China. He notes that every human being except those coming out of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were pagan worshipers of many gods. The plagues were directed against the gods of Egypt, proving their pagan worship had nothing to do with God. Since the Tower of Babel, the whole human race until Abraham was saturated in paganism and polytheism. Israel alone was the little nation with knowledge of the one true God.