I don't know if I would say it would be absent all together, given future events that transpire. I do, however, feel that without Daenerys there would not be as much Essos involvement until later in the series. I think that her perspective of Westeros is an important one to have. We understand and know how people like King Robert think about Essos, but without Daenerys, we wouldn't have an opinion on Westeros. For example, Danny doesn't remember Westeros, so Essos is all she knows. The culture and mannerisms there are what she grew up with and have shaped her and how she thinks about Westeros and the people that reside there.
I am a little biased with how I see Essos since I have seen the series, but even now, I get the feeling that Essos is less "civilized" (maybe that's not the best word) or progressive. We know the Dothraki keep slaves and still raid villages, whereas in Westeros there aren't really "slaves" as much as servants. It's actually kind of funny thinking about it. In Essos, the Dothraki raid villages and take hostages as slaves, but also, isn't that the exact same thing that happened when Ned Stark took in Theon? Yet, Essos is the "less civilized" society.
I am a little biased with how I see Essos since I have seen the series, but even now, I get the feeling that Essos is less "civilized" (maybe that's not the best word) or progressive. We know the Dothraki keep slaves and still raid villages, whereas in Westeros there aren't really "slaves" as much as servants. It's actually kind of funny thinking about it. In Essos, the Dothraki raid villages and take hostages as slaves, but also, isn't that the exact same thing that happened when Ned Stark took in Theon? Yet, Essos is the "less civilized" society.