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The Hapsburg dynasty ruled Hungary during the eighteenth century, forcing the country into semi-colonial dependency. Radical changes took place in the life of the country in the first half of the nineteenth century. At the beginning of the century the enlightened concepts of the French revolution spread among the liberal minded members of the Hungarian nobility, increasing national consciousness and intensifying feelings against the Hapsburg oppression and the absorption of Hungary by Austria. Influenced by revolutions in Europe, social unrest in Hungary came to a head in the revolution of March l5th 1848, 17 months of inspiration and tragedy for the struggle for independence. Austria combined forces with the Russian Tzar and the national Hungarian fight for independence ended in bloodshed. In the reprisals following defeat the most outstanding people ended their lives by the hand of the executioner or languished in jail or bitter exile. Those who managed to survive this difficult period in their country estates, awaited more propitious times and boycotted measures taken by those in power.
Agreement was reached in 1867 between the reigning House of the Hapsburgs and those Hungarians willing to co-operate. As a result of this the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was born. Hungary received an independent constitutional government. Economic growth of so far unknown dimensions was accomplished in the fields of agriculture, industry and science. This development was arrested when Hungary was on the losing side of the First World War. As a result of defeat the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy disintegrated, Hungary gained complete independence, but lost two thirds of her former territory and one third of her Hungarian speaking population.
This gives a brief picture of the economic, social and political background in which Loránd Eötvös was born, studied and worked.