Marriage in Pre-Industrial Societies: A Closer Look

Was romantic love the basis of marriage in pre-industrial societies?

a. True
b. False

Answer:

The notion that romantic love is the basis of marriage in pre-industrial societies is false.

Marriage in pre-industrial societies was not primarily based on romantic love. Instead, it was influenced by various factors such as economic advantages, family alliances, and practicality.

In small-scale farming cultures, for instance, marrying multiple women was a strategic decision to have more children to assist in crop cultivation. Furthermore, marriages were often arranged by families for strategic alliances and sociopolitical benefits, rather than romantic love.

It wasn't until Western societies post-Industrial Revolution that the societal ideal of marrying for love became more prevalent, influenced by Romanticism.

It's important to recognize that there was a wide range of marital customs and concepts of love across different cultures, both during pre-industrial and industrial times. Therefore, generalizing the basis of marriage in all pre-industrial societies as solely romantic love is inaccurate.