Explain how africa's geographic features have encouraged and / or hindered its development?

Well, Africa is a tough place to live you have the sahara desert and you the crazy African tribes that want to hunt you. Most likely the weather has a lot to do of why its hindered in development (100 degrees + ) and another good reason is because africans never a legitimate written language. I can't think of anything that encouraged the progression of its development but thats all I got.