<P> The history of New York City has been influenced by the prehistoric geological formation during the last glacial period of the territory that is today New York City . The area was long inhabited by the Lenape ; after initial European exploration in the 16th century , the Dutch established New Amsterdam in 1626 . In 1664 , the English conquered the area and renamed it New York . </P>
in 1664 the english wrested control of what region and renamed it new york
New Amsterdam