A Study on the Concept of Navigational History
History will be defined as a science on human beings in both space and time(des hommes dans le temps et l'espace). Navigational History is a premise to compose Maritime History. Maritime History is a branch of General History which is classified on the basis of space and will be definded as a branch of history to examine 'inter-realtions between maritime affairs and inland affairs'. Then, what kind of 'go by sea'can be a subject of Navigational History ? A research-subject of Navigational History must be navigation rather than sail or voyage. Because while 'sail' means to 'passive and noncommercial sailing' and voyage means to journeyin a general sense that includes sail and navigation, navigation means to indicate ' to go from one place to another in a ship' adn 'to convoy goods by water'. Then, how can we define Navigation History? Navigational History in a narrow sense is to be a field of studying 'process of development of nautical science and seamanship on the side of History ofScience and Techique, whereas Navigational History in a broad sense is to be a field of analyzing 'effects of historical navigation upon history on the side of General History. On studying Navigational History in a narrow sense, there are signifiacances of disclosing what the development of nautical instruments and arts of navigation have played a role in history. Navigational History in a broad sense is a branch of General History to study effects of historical navigation upon history. In conclusion, the significance of studying Navigation History is to disclose process of developmentof arts of navigation, and on the basis of this study is to reveal how the human elements operate in historical navigation. In short, it should not cease to study Navigational History in a narrow sense, and should enlarge its perspective of research toward Navigational History in a broad sense.