Aufklärungstheologie und Agrarentwicklung. Landpfarrer und Bauern im 18. Jahrhundert

In the 18th century, the age of Enlightenment, country parsons had a great influence on the development of agriculture in the protestant parts of Germany – greater than in the centuries before and afterwards. A very well known agricultural reformer of his time was the Reverend Johann Friedrich Mayer in the town of Kupferzell. He modernised the whole world of agriculture in the County of Hohenlohe in the South-West of Germany. He gave practical examples in his parsonage garden by raising certain plants such as clover and potatoes. He also published written guidance for farmers (Catechism of Agriculture). In this way he enabled farmers to become very wealthy.