The New Era

The 1848-1849 revolution ended in disaster; yet it brought major changes in the life of the people. It threw off many of the feudal chains which had paralyzed development in most fields, and speedily created new industries using the extraordinary talents of Hungarian craftsmen. Settlers from foreign lands were brought in to develop agriculture and fill the empty areas. The farmers experimented with new plants and cultivating techniques, and from the time of the reign of Empress Maria Theresa, potatoes became a staple of the people’s diet.