Department of History

Dr. Gonzalez offers a fresh interpretation of life in Los Angeles during the Mexican era, challenging romanticized views of the “California Pastoral.” Drawing on underused archival sources, he reveals how Los Angeles residents—shaped by fear of Indigenous resistance and admiration for Mexican liberal ideals—crafted a distinct regional identity rooted in both conflict and cultural aspiration.

Dr. McClain chronicles the life of Ellen Browning Scripps, a pioneering journalist and philanthropist who helped shape the cultural and educational landscape of Southern California. Drawing on rich archival sources, the book explores Scripps’s role in founding institutions like Scripps College and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, offering a compelling portrait of a woman who redefined the power of wealth and civic responsibility.

Dr. Serbin traces the journey of Brazilian leftist militants from armed resistance under dictatorship to leadership roles in a capitalist democracy. Drawing on decades of research and interviews, the book explores how former revolutionaries navigated the challenges of power, compromise, and democratic governance in post-authoritarian Brazil.

Dr. Statler explores how the United States gradually replaced France as the dominant foreign power in Vietnam following World War II. Drawing on diplomatic archives and international perspectives, the book traces the political, economic, and ideological motivations behind early U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia.

Co-authored by Dr. Sun, this textbook offers a comprehensive look at how China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam evolved through complex interactions with Western powers. Covering topics from early encounters to Cold War rivalries, the book highlights how East Asian societies responded to imperialism, modernization, and global conflict.

Dr. Tallie examines how British colonial rule in nineteenth-century Natal enforced racial and gender norms to control indigenous populations. Blending queer and postcolonial theory, the book reveals how colonial power shaped ideas of identity, belonging, and resistance in southern Africa.