The Dutch purchased Manhattan Island from the Lenape in exchange for goods equal to 60 guilders, which was Dutch currency at that time. Adjusted for inflation, that amount would be close to $1,000 in US dollars today.
Fort Manhattan was built on the island by the Dutch. The Dutch West India Company traded furs along the Hudson River, and the fort was one stop along the way. Fur was an important trade commodity for the Dutch. The fort served as a headquarters for the Dutch. The fort was the beginning of a vast, sprawling settlement that was eventually built on Manhattan Island.
The Dutch traders often bartered with the local Native Americans. Manhattan Island became an important port for loading goods onto ships. Gradually, a larger variety of goods were traded and shipped.
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