The Travels of Mendes Pinto

work by Pinto

Also known as: “Peregrinação”

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July 15, 2026

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The Travels of Mendes Pinto is a literary masterpiece written by Portuguese adventurer Fernão Mendes Pinto. It details his experiences in Asia during the 16th century, offering a European perspective on civilizations like China. Pinto claimed to have traveled extensively throughout Asia for 21 years, enduring numerous hardships, including being captured and enslaved multiple times. His work, the Peregrinação, was written after his return to Portugal and, while not geographically precise, provides valuable insights into the impression Asian cultures made on him and offers subtle critiques of his countrymen's behavior in the East. The book gained significant popularity in the 17th century.1

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Fernão Mendes Pinto
The Travels of Mendes Pinto), a literary masterpiece depicting the impression made on a European by Asian civilization, notably that of China, in the 16th century.
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The Travels of Mendes Pinto), a literary masterpiece depicting the impression made on a European by Asian civilization, notably that of China, in the 16th century.
Read More