The Aegean Islands, which for centuries had been important ports on the trading routes, became the backwaters of this new transport network and the economies of several islands came close to collapse.
The islands needed to help from the mainland in order for their economies to survive.
mnli hypothesis: The islands needed to help from the mainland in order for their economies to survive. premise: The Aegean Islands, which for centuries had been important ports on the trading routes, became the backwaters of this new transport network and the economies of several islands came close to collapse.