What commodity was central to the Russian fur trade in Alaska?

• A. Furs
• B. Gold
• C. Timber
• D. Fish

Answer: (A)

Furs were the driving force behind the Russian presence in Alaska. The Russians built trading posts and expanded exploration mainly to harvest and trade pelts, especially sea otter and beaver, which were extremely valuable in global markets for luxury goods. Indigenous hunters and traders supplied these pelts in exchange for goods such as firearms, cloth, and tools, creating a powerful economic and cultural system centered on fur. Because the trade revolved around pelts, it defined the Russian-Alaskan ventures far more than any other resource. Gold, timber, or fish remained important in Alaska's history, but they were not the central commodity that shaped the early Russian fur trade.