How were the Aegean Islands formed from submerged mountain ranges?

The Aegean Islands are the mountain peaks of a submerged landmass known as Aegeis. This submerged landmass is part of a larger geological process that shaped Europe. During the Cenozoic Era, the northward compression of Africa into Europe caused significant tectonic activity, including the westward movement of Anatolia, which gave rise to the Aegean arc and the mountains of Greece. This geological upheaval led to the fragmentation of ancient landmasses and the formation of basins, with volcanic activity also playing a role in shaping the region. Consequently, what were once mountain ranges became submerged, leaving the peaks visible as the Aegean Islands.12