The European expansion in the later middle age, as Adam Smith stated, influenced greatly on development of the world history. In the various events of the European expansion the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus is very important because the effect of the discovery of the New World have still continued to the present. I have interested to find out the reason why the western civilization has seized on the hegemony of the world over other civilizations. As many scholars pointed out, the most distinguished difference between the western civilization and other civilizations is that the western civilization was maritime-oriented, while other civilization were continental-oriented. So I set up the maritime histoy on the theme of my study in order to ruminate upon meaning of the se-power that is one of the motivating forces to drive histoy. Maritime history is not simply about that is maritime affairs, but a branch of history that inquires into inter-relations between maritime affairs and inland affairs. Maritime history constitutes of history of naval war, history of shipping and history of marine development. As above reasons, I have interested the European expansion in the later middle age that maritime activity was the most vigorous in the history. This is a case study to compose maritime history.

• 김성준