Final answer:
Montreal and Quebec were crucial as fur trading hubs in the fur trade of New France, strategically located along the St. Lawrence River and serving as central nodes in trade with Indigenous peoples.
Step-by-step explanation:
Montreal and Quebec were important in the fur trade of New France primarily because they served as fur trading hubs.
These cities were established by French colonizers who recognized the economic potential of the fur trade, particularly in beaver pelts, which were in high demand in Europe for fashionable hats.
The strategic location of Montreal and Quebec along the St. Lawrence River made them central nodes in the network of trade routes.
They facilitated the exchange of goods between the French and the Indigenous peoples, such as the Algonquin and Huron nations, who supplied the furs.
Furthermore, Quebec was the first permanent French settlement in North America, established by Samuel de Champlain, and became a keystone in the spread of French influence and control over fur trade routes.