Bento de Góis
Bento de Góis (1562 – 11 April 1607), was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary and explorer. His name is commonly given in English as Bento de Goes or Bento de Goës; in the past, it has also been Anglicized as Benedict Goës.
Bento de Góis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1562 |
| Died | 11 April 1607 (aged 44 or 45) |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Occupation(s) | Jesuit missionary, explorer |
| Known for | First European to travel overland from India to China |
He is mainly remembered as the first known European to travel overland from India to China, via current day Afghanistan and the Pamir Mountains. Inspired by controversies among the Jesuits as to whether the Cathay of Marco Polo's stories is the same country as China, his expedition conclusively proved that the two countries are one and the same, and, according to Henry Yule, made "Cathay... finally disappear from view, leaving China only in the mouths and minds of men".
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