Marriage and Dating in the Middle Ages
Throughout the ages the ideals a marriage is based on have greatly fluctuated. Whereas the practice of arranged marriages isn't common in the Western world, during the Middle Ages, marriages were often arranged on the basis of land ownership, or the acquiring of power and wealth.
Dating in the Middle Ages was practically an obsolete step in the higher classes. Classes were not allowed to inter-marry, let alone date.
Most instances of dating would have probably occurred in the lower classes where arranged marriages were not common.
From the 9th Century, the Church increasingly claimed marriage as one of its sacraments; however, despite some efforts at a complete clerical takeover, the marriage service remained the work of the couple, with the priest merely a witness" (Gardiner & Wenborn, 1995).
Nevertheless, friends and family members often played an intricate part in arranging a marriage when great wealth and land were involved. If the marriage was to take place, it was in their best interest to ensure they were getting a fair share of future wealth, or at least, an expansion of land.
To marry for love, during these times was not always a means to a long and healthy life. A lot of planning went into these marriages as both families usually had something to gain from an economically sound union.
For the rest of the population, "mutual consent was usually all that was required, and the woman had to be twelve years old and the man fourteen" (Hunter, 2002). Unlike the lavish wedding ceremonies today, the marriage ceremony in the Middle Ages was often simple.
It was not until the Church became more adamant about its involvement (by the late 16th Century) were weddings being held within churches. "In the Middle...
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