Connect East Africa is geographic proximity to the indian ocean to its historic development. How might the region have developed diffidently if it were an island desert or mountains area?

The climate of East Africa is rather atypical of equatorial regions. Because of a combination of the region's generally high altitude and the rain shadow of the westerly monsoon winds created by the Rwenzori Mountains and Ethiopian Highlands, East Africa is surprisingly cool and dry for its latitude. If it is different maybe it will took long before it will develop. It developed because it was a strategic location for trade with other countries. If its is an inland or mountain area, it would not be the center of trade so the development will much be slower.