University of Johannesburg
Browse

Die eise van ons tyd aan die geskiedskrywing

educational resource
posted on 2024-11-18, 14:13 authored by Inaugural addresses
Inaugural lecture--Rand Afrikaans University, History Department, 29 August 1968@@This inaugural lecture deals with the demands made by present times on the writing of history in South Africa. As a background, the changes which have taken place since the Second World War and which have influenced the approach to history in the West are briefly discussed. Then comment is given upon historical problems arising from the much altered international and internal situation of South Africa after 1945, and it is pointed out how certain subjects such as the change to a Republic in 1961, the leaving of the Commonwealth, and the strategic importance of South Africa are being neglected by our historians. Furthermore, it is shown that the history of the European immigration to this country, the relationship between different peoples in a multi-national society, comparative and social histories, the history of the rise of South African cities and the social, cultural and political changes which have accompanied it, still await attention as also the history of ideas, an historical analysis of the mind of the Afrikaner and the English-language speaking people of South Africa. Although considerable work has been carried out in the field of re-interpreting South African history, much still remains to be done. For various reasons the sphere of contemporary history particularly has been neglected. This has resulted in visiting historians of other countries undertaking this field of study, but not doing justice to the traditions of the South African way of life and thought. An appeal is made that these questions relating to the twentieth century South African history in particular be answered, and the possible objections raised against the practise of contemporary history are also dealt with.

History

Date of creation

2009-07-29

Date submitted to repository

1968-08-29

Copyright information

University of Johannesburg

Original repository

Vital

Language Translation

The demands of our times on the writing of history

Repository

Special Collections

Collection/Group

Inaugural addresses

Sub collection

1005|RAU Inaugural Addresses

Type of material

Inaugural

Research purpose

Teaching lecture

Legacy Handle

10210/2757

Usage metrics

    Inaugural addresses

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC