Which European power established a major trading presence with the Haudenosaunee along the Hudson River in the 17th century?

• A. The French
• B. The Dutch
• C. The Spanish
• D. The British

Answer: (B)

European involvement in the Haudenosaunee fur economy along the Hudson River in the 1600s was driven by the Dutch, who built a sustained trading network there. They established New Netherland and set up key posts along the river, notably near Albany, to exchange European goods for furs like beaver pelts. This created a strong, organized presence and shaped early colonial trade in the region. The Dutch focus along the Hudson contrasts with the French, who mainly tied to the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes routes, and the British, who would later consolidate control but after the Dutch foothold had already become central to 17th‑century trade in that corridor.