Complex sentence: In the 19th century, after completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, Schenectady became an important transportation and trade center, as it was part of connecting the Hudson River to the Mohawk Valley and the Great Lakes.
Split into simpler sentences: In the 19th century, after completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, Schenectady became an important transportation and trade center. It benefited by increased traffic and trade connecting the Hudson River to the Mohawk Valley and the Great Lakes.