RIHLA #8

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Roman Weddings, Marriage, and Divorce

Overall, Marriages weren't based on love. Marriages were based on agreements between families. Marriages were supposed to increase the wealth and class of a family.
Marriages were governed by laws. For instance, the bride and groom had to be Roman citizens, or had to gain permission.
One emperor, Augustus, had a great impact on the marriages between people. An example is the inability for close relatives to marry.
The usual wedding arrangement was a ceremony with the bride and groom, who sealed the marriage with a kiss.
Divorce, on the other hand, was the declaration to separate. Divorce was really easy because the agreement had to be done in front of seven witnesses. Divorce was common among the upper class people.

The one tradition from the Romans that society keeps today is the ceremony and the kiss between bride and groom. Other than that, there are no laws that control marriage, and the divorce is more difficult.

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