Streeksgeskiedskrywing en koloniale verhoudinge: Die WesKaapse platteland en die Karoo

Abstract

Scholars who specialize in local or regional history study the characteristics and development of a society on a micro-level. These characteristics include demographic, economic, social, political, juridical, cultural and religious aspects. Historical writing on the relations between the indigenous Khoisan and the Western colonizers in the Cape Colony during the period before 1900 has a strong socio-economic focus. Furthermore, regional differences have received little attention in these texts. Therefore a regional approach may provide a fuller and more nuanced perspective. A provisional examination of historical studies on rural areas in the western part of the Cape Colony and the Karoo was done for the purpose of this article and only seventeen studies were found that contain significant research results regarding the relations betweeen the colonizers and the colonized peoples. In the article these results are evaluated. It appears that, although the seventeen studies provide important information, none of them deal with the whole spectrum of relations between the indigenous peoples and the colonizers. The available source material inevitably puts restrictions on the results that can be achieved. However, in none of the studies optimal use was made of all the relevant sources. There is a strong need for more research in the field of regional history with a focus on colonial relations.