A Cultural History of Marriage in the Age of Empires

This volume looks at how, during the age of empires (1800–1900), marriage was a key transition in the life course worldwide, a rite of passage everywhere with major cultural significance. While in some ways the institution of marriage became threatened – for instance through rising divorce rates in Western societies – in others it became more anchored than ever before. In Western Europe marriage was increasingly regarded as the only way to reach happiness and self-fulfillment, and romantic partner choice became a new ideal, but material interests remained nevertheless guiding principles in the selection of a partner for life. In the United States former slaves obtained the right to marry and to formalize existing bonds after the Civil War, leading to a convergence in marriage patterns between the black and white population. In Latin America, marriage was and remained less common than in other world regions – due to the prevalence of consensual unions – but marriage rates were nevertheless on the rise. A similar trend was observed in Australia and New Zealand. In African and Asian societies, European colonial powers tried to change the marriage customs of indigenous populations-for instance regarding polygamy and arranged marriages-but sooner or later they had to adapt themselves and their colonial administrations in order to avoid major resistance. In a world of turbulent political and economic change, marriage and the family remained safe havens, the linchpins of society that they had been for centuries.

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