Lesotho its a country located in South Africa it's landlocked. It is also called kingdom in the key.

1. Lesotho: A Mountain
Kingdom's History

2. Lesotho's earliest inhabitants were the Khoisan
people, known for their hunter-gatherer lifestyle and
rock art depicting their lives.
01
Around the 16th century, Bantu-speaking tribes
arrived, bringing with them agriculture and
ironworking (Lesotho Government, 2023).
02
The Land Before Time: Early Inhabitants

3. King Moshoeshoe I, also known as
Moshoeshoe the Great, emerged in the early
19th century (Mphahlele, 2010).
01
The Unifying Vision of Moshoeshoe I
Through diplomacy and strategic alliances, he
united various Basotho clans to form a
powerful kingdom.
02
He established a system of fortified mountain
settlements (thabeng) for defense against
encroaching enemies.
03 Statue of King Moshoeshoe I of Lesotho at
Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village, Thaba Bosiu.

4. The Mfecane and the Colonial Shadow
Early 19th century was marked by the Mfecane/ "wars
of crushing",a period of violence and displacement in
southern Africa (Lesotho Government, 2023).
01
King Moshoeshoe I sought British protection to shield
Lesotho from these conflicts (Lesotho Government,
2023).
02
In 1868, Lesotho became a British protectorate known
as Basutoland (Rosenberg, 2023).
03 An early painting of the Mfecane wars

5. A Nation Under British Rule
Under British rule, Basutoland experienced a degree of
stability but also faced challenges (Rosenberg, 2023).
01
The British attempted to introduce a system of
indirect rule through Basotho chiefs.
02
The Basutoland Pony Breeding Scheme was
established, focusing on horse breeding for the
British military.
03
Image of Qiloane Plateau near
Thaba Bosiu

6. During the 20th century, a spirit of nationalism grew in
Basutoland (Lesotho Government, 2023).
01
King Moshoeshoe II, grandson of Moshoeshoe I,
championed the cause for independence.
02
Political parties emerged, advocating for self-rule.
03
Seeds of Independence: The Rise of Nationalism

7. On October 4, 1966, Basutoland gained independence
and became the Kingdom of Lesotho (Lesotho
Government, 2023).
01
King Moshoeshoe II became the first monarch of the
newly independent nation.
02
Lesotho faced challenges, including poverty and
political instability.
03
Independence Achieved: Lesotho is Born
King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho, receiving the
Constitutional Instruments from Princess Marina
of England

8. Important dates and people in Lesotho history
 Moshoeshoe: United various groups
to repel challenges from Zulus in the
1820s (BBC, 2023).
 Chief Leabua Jonathan: Prime
minister when Lesotho gained
independence in 1966 (BBC, 2023).
 King Letsie III: Restored to the throne
in 1995 (BBC, 2023).
 1786: Birth of King Moshoeshoe 1 (BBC,
2023).
 1833: Three missionaries were given
permission to found a mission station in
Basutoland (now Lesotho)(BBC, 2023).
 1884: Lesotho became a British colony
(BBC, 2023).
 October 4, 1966: Lesotho's independence
day (BBC, 2023).

9. Important places and events in Lesotho history
 Places
 Thaba-Bosiu - Moshoeshoe soke
refuge at the unconquerable
Thaba-Bosiu plateau (BBC, 2023).
 Qalabane mountain - hosted
Ntoa-ea-lithunya in 1880-82 (On
This Day, n.d.).
 Events
 1820s - formation of Basutoland (On
This Day, n.d.)..
 1860s - Becomes a British
protectorate (On This Day, n.d.).
 1966 - Independence as Kingdom of
Lesotho, with Moshoeshoe II as king
and Chief Leabua Jonathan (Basotho
National Party) as prime minister
(On This Day, n.d.).

10. References
1. BBC. (2013, August 21). “Lesotho profile - Timeline.” Available at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cwlw3xz0z14t/lesotho (Accessed on April 23, 2024)
2. Lesotho Government. (2023, January 11). “About Lesotho.” Available at:
https://www.gov.ls/about-lesotho/ (Accessed on April 23, 2024)
3. Mphahlele, B. P. (2010). “History of Lesotho”. Morija Museum & Archives.Available at:
https://www.morijamuseum.org/ (Accessed on April 23, 2024)
4. Rosenberg, S. (2023, March 3). “Lesotho”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at:
https://www.britannica.com/summary/Lesotho (Accessed on April 23, 2024)
5. On This Day (n.d.) “Lesotho History Timeline.” Available at:
https://www.onthisday.com/countries/lesotho (Accessed on April 23, 2024)

11. THANK YOU