Andrés Reséndez
Andrés Reséndez is a historian whose work focuses on the transformation of North and South America over the centuries. Born in Mexico City in 1958, Reséndez is the author of several award-winning books on a variety of topics, including contact between the Old and New Worlds, the Spanish and Native American interaction, colonization, and immigration. He received a B.S. in Physics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1980, a M.A. in History from Stanford in 1987, and a Ph.D. in History from Stanford in 1994.
Reséndez is especially acclaimed for his work in expedition literature, which he uses to reconstruct realities that have been obscured by historical narratives. He is often credited with reintroducing maritime and borderlands history to the historical narrative. A Professor of History at the University of California Davis, he is affiliated with the university’s John Muir Center for Sustainable Living. His research has taken him to countries around the world, including Mexico, the United States, Spain, Peru, Sweden, Norway, and the Philippines.
Reséndez’s debut book, The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America, published in 2016, details the little-known history of the enslavement of Native Americans in the Americas since the era of Columbus. The book won several awards, including the 2017 American Historical Association’s Best First Book, the 2016-17 Bancroft Prize, and the 2017 Los Angeles Times Book Prize, History.
Reséndez’s 2019 book, The Pacific in the Age of Exploration, looks at the history of maritime exploration in the Pacific Ocean between the late fifteenth century and nineteenth century. The book examines how Spanish and Portuguese imperial ambitions drove activities and settlements in the Pacific. It also looks at the interactions between and among the indigenous populations, Europeans, and Asians who live in the region.
In 2019, Reséndez published Edge of Contention: The United States and Maritime China 1919–1922, which explores the interactions between the United States and China during a period of diplomatic tension. Focusing on incidents that occurred around the time of the Washington Naval Conference, the book examines how the incident reflected the changing superpower dynamics in the Pacific and raised wider issues about the role of international law and justice.
In 2020, Reséndez published a memoir, A Land So Mysterious: The Unexplored Brain and the Making of an American Historian. In the book, Reséndez provides a personalized exploration of history, discussing how his research and writings have informed his perspectives over his career as a historian. He examines how his personal experiences, such as his immigrant work in the US and his life in Mexico, have shaped his approach to history and how history can be used to gain insight into contemporary society.
Throughout his work, Reséndez emphasizes how indigenous cultures and populations shaped the development of the Americas and the Pacific. He argues that their perspectives and imprints are largely absent from history and he calls for historians to build a more thoughtful, empathetic, and inclusive history. He is also passionate about communicating his findings through lectures and conferences as well as through his books.
Through his research, books, and lectures, Reséndez is expanding our understanding of the struggles and accomplishments of the people in the Americas and the Pacific during the era of exploration and colonization. His work is a powerful tool for gaining a fuller picture of this history and its continuing impacts today.