History of the marriage contracts

While stories of star-struck lovers getting married make for good tales, historically marriage had little to do with love. In ancient times, marriage was more like a business deal. According to Stephanie Coontz, the author of Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage, "It was a way of getting in-laws, of making alliances and expanding the family labor force."

First recorded marriage contracts

Marriage is an ancient institution with the first recorded evidence of marriage contracts and ceremonies dating back 4,000 years in Mesopotamia. It was an institution that primarily regulated property rights and political privileges and contracts reflected that. In that ancient world marriage primarily served to preserve power. 

Kings and others of the ruling class married off daughters to build alliances, acquire land, and produce legitimate heirs. These deals were basically business mergers, the forging of military coalitions, or the finalizing of peace treaties. It was seen as a way to build strategic alliances between families. Those getting married often had no say in the matter even in marriages between the lower class. In those cases, the purpose of marriage was to choose a marriage partner with a good work ethic, strength, skills and robust health – and to produce heirs. If they had adjoining plots of land that was a real bonus.

What is traditional marriage? This book may open your eyes.

Marriage played role banks and markets fill today

For most of history love played no part in marriage because it was considered too serious a matter to be based on such a frail emotion. In ancient Mesopotamia arranged marriages were the standard. Often the bride and groom had never even met. In some cases, bridal auctions were held and women were sold to the highest bidder. Economically, marriage filled the role that banks and markets do today. It organized and transferred property and gave individuals access to new workers for the family business.

This is also where the dowry came into play. Until the late eighteenth century, the marriage dowry was the largest amount of cash or movable goods a man would acquire in his lifetime. As a result, men were often more interested in the dowry than the bride.

The "widow's third" was a part of the marriage contract that guaranteed European women that upon their husband's death she would be provided for.

Babylonian Bridal Auction

I'm not saying love was never part of marriage in ancient times, it just wasn't the norm and was definitely not necessary. Until the late 18^th century, parents had the right to arrange their children's marriages and could dissolve a marriage if it happened without their permission.

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Ancient Egyptian wedding customs

While the origin of wedding rings can be traced back to ancient Egypt, you may be surprised to learn that in ancient Egypt there was no wedding ceremony. Instead, marriages were most often arranged by the parents with goals of personal advancement or stability. Back then, the “men” usually married between the ages of 16-20, or when he could earn money to provide for his family. Women, or I should say girls, commonly married at 13 or closely after puberty. So instead of a ceremony, there was an agreement and when the bride entered the groom's house and the agreed price or goods were exchanged, they were married.

Bride price

The groom’s father was the one who wrote up the marriage “settlement” or contract which was signed in front of witnesses before marriage could even be considered. This agreement included the bride price (payment made by the groom or his family to the bride’s parents), and also included pre-nuptial agreements as to how things would be divided if divorce did enter the picture.

 

Purpose of marriage in ancient Egypt

While marriage in ancient Egypt seems more like a business deal by today’s standards, the purpose of marriage in ancient Egypt was to have children. Along with that, it was hoped, and even expected, that the husband and wife would grow to love and honor one another. So, ideally, an ancient Egyptian marriage relationship was one where the couple remained faithful and produced offspring. I guess you could say, they had the same hopes and aspirations as many brides and grooms in modern times.

How did ancient Egyptians handle divorce?

Ancient Egyptian women were not treated as property by their husbands (like ancient Grecian woman) and so they had the right to divorce and remarry. Divorce happened much the same way as the marriage with a new agreement to end the marriage. This divorce could be asked for by either of the spouses, and a new agreement was signed agreeing to the dividing of material possessions based on the prenuptial agreement. Once it was signed, the marriage was over. But with divorce in ancient Egypt, the woman left the relationship with the children. They belonged to her.

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