Hmm...hard...pick, one the one hand, lots of civs usually is fun, much conflics, but it ends up with some big guys vassalising everyone, making almost every game the same, just as every earth map game does
your last game was more fun, a HUGE rome, a strong china (although that is no suprise), i think having one or 2 civs with a strong starting position improves the fun, will be a walkover later on else...
Another sidenote: it would be fun to have a fairly isolated start, where REXing is in order instead of rushing, almost every game you had a big headstart by immediatelly taking over 1 or 2 civs...maybe playing peter of russia would be fun, with lots of space to settle?
suggestion:
The Americas
fine as you said it...tends to be a non-factor regardless of who's put into it, doesnt influences the game unless you're on there yourself
Africa
fine as well...mansa and zara are both strong players, i think especially zara could end up really strong if he can settle all of africa, especially if egypte is left out...
Europe
Elizabeth of England
Louis XIV of France
Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire
Joao II of Portugal
Peter of Russia
Ragnar of the Vikings
Asia and middle east are fine =)
removed some to improve space for the other ones...a strong ottoman empire would be fun as well, especially if you play russia
you're setup, or mine...i guess would result in a very strong zara, and saladin, unless suleiman can take over saladin fast, in my oppinion, he's usually the stronger leader..
european civs probably wont get very big, unless a warmonger can take a large portion of it pretty fast (im thinking...charlemange?)