Lesotho was originally inhabited by local tribes of hunter-gatherers called the Khoisan. Later came the Bantu tribes and eventually the Sotho-Tswana peoples. In 1822 Kin Moshoeshoe I united the land under one rule for the first time. The land was called Basutoland at the time. When Europeans arrived first he French had control, but the British took over in 1795. It was renamed Lesotho when it gained independence in 1966. For the first 20 years the Basuto National Party remained in power. The country has since had changes in power and leaders with many protests and some unrest.
