Complex sentence: Descendants of the original settlers played a prominent role in colonial America, and New Netherland Dutch culture characterized the region for two centuries, encompassing today's Capital District around Albany, the Hudson Valley, western Long Island, northeastern New Jersey, and New York City.
Split into simpler sentences: Descendants of the original settlers played a prominent role in colonial America. For two centuries, New Netherland Dutch culture characterized the region of today's Capital District around Albany, the Hudson Valley, western Long Island, northeastern New Jersey, and New York City.