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A review by goblue22
The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America by Russell Shorto
4.0
As a recent resident of NYC, this was a fascinating look at an unheralded part of American history, the Dutch influence on Manhattan and the early colonies.
Their legacy is still found across the city. Wall Street was the original outer wall of New Amsterdam. Broadway sits on top of a 400 year old trading route. Brooklyn (Breukelen), Bushwick (Boswijk), Harlem (Harleem), Long Island (Lange Eylandt) are all names with Dutch roots.
And unlike the puritan colonies in New England, the Dutch viewed their outpost as a trading post, and fostered free-trade, religious tolerance, and a melting pot attitude. An imprint New York still feels to this day.
Their legacy is still found across the city. Wall Street was the original outer wall of New Amsterdam. Broadway sits on top of a 400 year old trading route. Brooklyn (Breukelen), Bushwick (Boswijk), Harlem (Harleem), Long Island (Lange Eylandt) are all names with Dutch roots.
And unlike the puritan colonies in New England, the Dutch viewed their outpost as a trading post, and fostered free-trade, religious tolerance, and a melting pot attitude. An imprint New York still feels to this day.