The state and the making of the white settler agriculture in Natal c.1820-c.1990
Contributions to the historiography of Natalâs agricultural development were limited and generally descriptive pre-1980s and fragmented thereafter. This thesis aims to address this by providing a more comprehensive understanding of agrarian land use which recognises not only monocultural dominance in the search for revenue by the colonial state but addresses the struggle of isolated white mixed farming communities in developing a viable agrarian economy. The postannexation years from 1843 was a period of transition marked by financial stringencies which limited the options for the governance of Natal. In particular this determined the nature of state relationships with landowners and Africans within the colony and set the precedents which impacted on agrarian land use during the second half of the nineteenth century. Chapter 1 provides a review of historical literature which considers the contributions of the main âschools of historical thoughtâ which interact in offering theoretical explanation on the aims of the state and settlers and the tensions with the rights of the indigenous people of Natal in relation to land. Natal, in comparison to the Cape was an isolated colony, deemed to have limited agrarian
Lynas, Matthew Gibson
Natal (South Africa)
The state and the making of the white settler agriculture in Natal c.1820-c.1990. Contributions to the historiography of Natalâs agricultural development were limited and generally descriptive pre-1980s and fragmented thereafter. This thesis aims to address this by providing a more comprehensive understanding of agrarian land use which recognises not only monocultural dominance in the search for revenue by the colonial state but addresses the struggle of isolated white mixed farming communities in developing a viable agrarian economy. The postannexation years from 1843 was a period of transition marked by financial stringencies which limited the options for the governance of Natal. In particular this determined the nature of state relationships with landowners and Africans within the colony and set the precedents which impacted on agrarian land use during the second half of the nineteenth century. Chapter 1 provides a review of historical literature which considers the contributions of the main âschools of historical thoughtâ which interact in offering theoretical explanation on the aims of the state and settlers and the tensions with the rights of the indigenous people of Natal in relation to land. Natal, in comparison to the Cape was an isolated colony, deemed to have limited agrarian
state make white_settler agriculture historiography agricultural_development limit generally descriptive pre fragmented thereafter aim_address provide_comprehensive agrarian land_use recognise dominance search revenue colonial_state address struggle isolated white mixed farming_community develop viable agrarian_economy period_transition mark financial limit option governance particular determine_nature state relationship landowner africans within colony set precedent impacted agrarian land_use provide review historical literature considers contribution main school historical think interact offer theoretical explanation aim state settler tension right indigenous_people relation land comparison cape isolate colony deem limited agrarian