Quote:It had to do with inheritance
That is interesting. So much ado was made in the history I read about emulating the pop-start monk ascetics that I failed to consider that aspect.
That is interesting because I think the tradition of marriage exists in part in order to protect the property. This goes far beyond the arranged marriages of the nobility over the course of history, but that is one good example of marriage existing to protect property.
Still in play, too, as you can learn if you ever have the "pleasure" of sitting in probate court and listening to the content of the cases (in US or at least in MA, divorce, inheritance, child custody and support are handled in probate court). It's all about the money.
(That's a cultural level. Probate is a cultural level that affects the individual. I'm not saying people don't really think they love each other when they marry, and some sctually do. That's the personal level.)