NZ Christchurch, page-158

The Greeks and Romans saw Sicily as a province and the natives were citizens.

After the collapse of the Roman empire about 20 powers controlled Sicily for as little as about 10 years in the case of the British and relatively long periods in the case of the Spanish Bourbons.

Most of the 20 powers caused the island to deteriorate including deforestation of the mountains.

The Saracens introduced crops such as dates, sugar cane, cotton and various vegetables.
The land had irrigation systems built and their 200 years increased the fertility of the land.

The worst were the Spanish causing a criminal clsss to become established before Garibaldi United the island with Italy.