Agrariese geskiedenis en streekhistoriese navorsing

Abstract

Today, farming still ranks as one of the key industries in the national economy of most countries. As a result of this, during the last forty years, keen interest in the agricultural past has taken root especially in Europe and the USA. It was, however, only after World War II that the study of agrarian history was put on a systematic, organised, and scientific basis. One of the main reasons for this is the wide interest being shown in social and economic history, and the recognition of the role which agriculture plays (or has played) in society as a whole. On account of its nature and scope, the study of agrarian history calls for an interdisciplinary approach, which implies a cognisance of the contents and implementation of the methods used by other social sciences. Local and regional history, in particular, can benefit from 'n knowledge of the agrarian past, since agriculture has for centuries been the pivot on which socio-economic activities in rural areas hinged. In contrast with the situation abroad, the study of agrarian history in South Africa is still in its infancy and very little research has yet been done in this sphere.