Social Sciences and the Law

How did the custom of giving a dowry originate?

Link to this answer

CloseClose

Link to this answer

Share this credible answer with others. Simply paste this code into your blog or Web page:

<a href="http://qanda.encyclopedia.com/question/did-custom-giving-dowry-originate-102820.html" >How did the custom of giving a dowry originate?</a>
E-mail this answer Link to this answer

The dowry apparently originated in the giving of a marriage gift by the family of the bridegroom to the bride and the bestowal of money upon the bride by her parents. One purpose of the dowry was to provide support for the wife on the husband's death, and thus it was related remotely to the rights of dower. In civil-law countries the dowry is an important form of property.

Answer verified with
Get more facts and information about dowry . Or, view the full encyclopedia entry from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.

Similar questions: Has the practice of paying a dowry ever involved an exchange? Why does the bride’s family pay a dowry? What is the rationale for a dowry? Why does the bride have a dowry? [ Hide these questions ]

Related research questions

Related research articles

See all results at HighBeam

HighBeam gives you access to newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles plus press releases, facts, information, and biographies from thousands of sources.