Leonardo worked in Milan as a painter
and engineer for a duke from 1482 to
1499. Although he completed only six
paintings during that time, they include
two masterpieces: The Last Supper and
The Virgin of the Rocks.
While in Milan Leonardo also became
interested in observing nature. He
thought that by carefully observing
objects and accurately drawing them, an
artist could obtain scientific knowledge.
Leonardo recorded his observations in a
series of notebooks. The notebooks
cover a variety of subjects, including
painting, architecture, machinery, the
structure of the human body, and the
science of flight. For example, more
than 300 years before flying machines
were perfected, Leonardo developed
plans for an airplane and a helicopter.
Later Years
In 1503 Leonardo returned to Florence.
There he continued his scientific studies
and worked on four great paintings,
including the Mona Lisa. He spent some
of his later years in Milan and Rome. In
1516 he moved to Cloux (now Clos-
Luce), France, to work for the French
Leonardo da Vinci painted The Last Supper on the wall of a monastery in Milan, Italy.
132 Leonardo da Vinci BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
king. He spent most of his time there
editing his writings. Leonardo died in
Cloux on May 2, 1519.
#More to explore
Painting • Renaissance • Science
Leopard
The leopard is a wild cat of Africa and
Asia. It is known for its spotted coat.
Leopards are sometimes called panthers.
The scientific name of the leopard is
Panthera pardus.
An average leopard weighs between 110
and 200 pounds (50 to 90 kilograms). It
is about 7 feet (2 meters) long, not
including the long tail. Some leopards
grow much larger.
Most leopards have yellow fur on the
back and white fur underneath. Dark
spots cover much of the body. The size
and spacing of the spots are different in
different types of leopard. The leopard
called the black panther has a black coat
on which the spots barely show.
Leopards can live in a variety of habitats.
They are found in forests, deserts, grasslands,
mountains, and rocky places.
They are skilled climbers and good
swimmers.
Leopards live alone. They come together
only to mate. The female gives birth to
two to four babies, called cubs. The cubs
go off on their own after about two years.
Leopards are fierce predators that hunt
mainly at night. They hunt antelope,
deer, dogs, and baboons. Leopards also
eat cattle and may attack humans.
Sometimes they drag their prey high into
a tree to protect it from other animals.
In some places leopards are endangered,
or at risk of dying out. Some people
hunt leopards for sport and for fur.
Other people have taken over the leopard’s
habitat.
#More to explore
Cat
Leopards were once known as pards.
People today sometimes call them panthers.
In about 1490 Leonardo da Vinci drew
plans for a flying machine.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Leopard 133
Lesotho
The Kingdom of Lesotho is entirely
surrounded by the country of South
Africa. Lesotho’s capital is Maseru.
Geography
Mountain ranges cover about two thirds
of Lesotho. In the west is a flatter
region. The Orange and Tugela rivers,
two of southern Africa’s largest waterways,
have their sources in Lesotho’s
mountains. Lesotho has hot summers
and cold winters.
Plants and Animals
Overgrazing and erosion have largely
destroyed the natural grasslands of
Lesotho. The country’s other vegetation
includes Cape willow trees, wild olive
trees, and aloe plants. Lesotho’s animals
include small antelope, hares, and a few
leopards.
People
Most of Lesotho’s people belong to the
Sotho ethnic group. A smaller number
of people are Zulu. Sotho and English
are the two main languages. Nearly
everyone is Christian. Most of the population
lives in rural areas.
Economy
Lesotho sells water and electricity to
South Africa. Its factories make food
and clothing. Construction, diamond
mining, and tourism are other important
industries. Many of Lesotho’s
people work in South Africa or as farmers.
Farmers raise sheep and goats and
grow corn, potatoes, wheat, and beans.
History
For thousands of years Lesotho was the
hunting ground of the San people, or
Bushmen. In the 1800s the Sotho
people took control of the region. In
1871 the British made the land a colony
known as Basutoland. The Kingdom of
Lesotho gained independence in 1966.
..More to explore
Maseru • South Africa
The Sotho people of Lesotho traditionally
live in small round houses.
Facts About
LESOTHO
Population
(2008 estimate)
2,020,000
Area
11,720 sq mi
(30,355 sq km)
Capital
Maseru
Form of
government
Constitutional
monarchy
Major urban
centers
Maseru, Teyateyaneng,
Maputsoe,
Hlotse,
Mafeteng
134 Lesotho BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Lettuce
Lettuce is the most widely planted salad
vegetable. There is only one species, or
type, of lettuce. Its scientific name is
Lactuca sativa. It belongs to the same
large plant group as daisies and dandelions.
Farmers in many parts of the world
grow lettuce. It grows best in mild
weather. High heat can keep lettuce
from growing to its full size and can
make the leaves taste bitter. Lettuce
needs plenty of water, but too much
water can cause it to lose its crispness.
