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New York City is arguably the most important city on the planet. The city is home to the largest financial sector, the most valuable sports teams, and is the cultural and economic Mecca of the United States. The famous Wall Street controls the world’s economy, while Broadway and Harlem produce world-class music and acts. The city of 5 boroughs and 8 million citizens had a rather humble foundation; in fact, New York City was not even its original name.
So who founded New York and how did they do it?
New Amsterdam
The beginnings of New York dates back to the 17th century, in the Netherlands. The 17th century was when European nations competed to gain control of trade routes and colonies in the Americas. In 1609, an Englishman by the name of Henry Hudson was hired by the Dutch East India Company to find a trade route to China. However, Hudson’s ship was led to a completely different route by accident and it ended up in the present-day Albany, New York. Hudson landed in Albany through a river which he named after himself; the Hudson River.
