The study of general history in South Africa

Inaugural lecture--Department of History, Rand Afrikaans University, 12 August 1980General History normally forms 50% of all history syllabi in South African schools and universities. The term is generally used to refer to the history of Western Civilization and its contact with, and impact on other civilizations and regions of the world. It is a very important part of the history syllabus, and is intended to broaden the scholar's outlook and to assist him towards a better understanding of the world in which he lives. Unfortunately this task is not supported by basic post-graduate research and teaching beyond the honours level. An analysis of work done in this field and works published in South Africa by South Africans, proves that historians lag far behind Political Scientists and even Economic Historians. Afrikaans universities tend to be more actively involved in post-graduate research in Political Science and Economics, while English universities undertake more post-graduate studies in History. Prof Kapp comes to the conclusion that History Departments should display a more daring approach in their choice of post-graduate work and that themes in General History should be included in research programmes, which in turn would lead to an improvement in the teaching of General History at secondary and university level. The urgent need for a year book of international studies, in which a selection from the best research of each year can be published, similar to the Archives Year Book for South African History, is emphasized