The world wasn't even really all that interesting. Who did the Gondorians and Rohirrim trade with? Why were there, like, cavemen between Bree and Isengard? What was up with Bree, anyways? Which country did they belong to? What happened to that old kingdom that Weathertop was part of? Kingdoms get destroyed, sure, but people settle to fill the vacuum. Why the heck is the river Anduin flowing between Minas Tirith and Minas Morgul, when--if you look at the map--it's probably far more likely that it'd turn east and go into that big vast empty expanse that is apparently full of evil humans.
Oh well, at least there's Umbar. And oliphants.