2. Mesopotamia
The Beginning of a Relationship
• Men proposed to women then a marriage contract was
signed
• The bride would have been proposed to just after puberty
the groom a little older
• The groom and father of the bride agreed on a contract
• A price was paid to the father of the bride, the dowry for
the future wife
• Then the wedding occurred
3. Mesopotamia
Wedding Ceremony
• The bride was delivered to the groom
• The groom took of her veil
• Then he would say “ she is my wife”
• Then groom would then pour a perfume over
his new wife
4. Mesopotamia
Babies
• If the couple did not create children and the
wife passed away the father of the deceased
return the husbands gifts
• The amount of children was determined by the
area that the couple lived in
• The father had total authority over the children
5. Mesopotamia
Divorce
• If the wife did not produce children then the
husband could divorce her and take another
wife and his gifts back
• Although some husbands had other women in
the house who did produce children
• The ex-wife kept one gift
6. Mesopotamia
Widows
• If the husband died the money given to his wife
before house maintenance was for her own use
• Since the wife was part of the family she would
re-marry her husbands brother or near relative
• If the wife didn’t remarry into the family she
would return her gifts to her sons (if any) or her
husband brothers
7. EGYPT
Bride and Groom
• The bride is between the ages of 14
and 15 at the oldest
• The groom is between 17 and 20 at
the oldest
• They were usually in love, they
would hope their parents could agree
on a contract
• The husband would only be married
to one woman at a time
8. EGYPT
Wedding Day
• Bride would take her things to her fiancé's
house
• The bride would usually wear a long linen
tunic or dress with as much jewelry as she
owned
• Their was no official ceremony aspect, just
food, dancing and celebration
9. EGYPT
Contract
• It was the father of the bride and the
husband’s job to discuss and agree on a
contract
• The poorer couples didn’t create a
contract because the cost of a scribe was
to expensive
• Contents of an average contract: couple’s
names, the date, names of
parents, witnesses, name of the scribe
who wrote it
10. EGYPT
Contract Cont.
• Originally the husband would pay about the worth
of a slave to the father of the bride
• Then years later the father would pay to the
husband
• If a divorce occurred the ex-husband would still
pay to support his ex
• A divorce might have occurred if the bride did not
produce children
11. GREECE
Marriage Arrangements
• an agreement was formed between the parents of
the couple
• The dowry was decided upon as part of the
agreement
• The bride would be of ages 14-18 the groom 20-
30
• If the brides family could not provide a dowry
they would give her to the groom as a
concubine, some men might have multiple
12. GREECE
Wedding Day
• There was a set of customs that needed to be
followed, priests did not attend
• Both the bride and groom went to the baths
• Then the groom would go to the bride’s home for
a feast
• The couple would then go to the grooms
home, taken to the fire showered with nuts by the
grooms parents
13. GREECE
Ceremony and Rituals
• The bride would take her clothes and toys from
childhood and sacrifice them to the goddess
Venus
• A pig would also be offered on the day of the
wedding, along with prayers to Juno
• The wedding contract would be signed by the
father of the bride, the gifts would be given
• The groom would then take the bride away from
her mother ( in a pretending kind of way)
14. GREECE
Divorce
• The husband would give back the dowry (or
what's left of it) to his wife’s parents
• Divorces were caused for many reasons
• one reason would be if the wife hadn’t
produced offspring and she had reached
adulthood
15. ROME
General Info
• Most marriages were arranged by the couples
parents
• The bride would usually be about 13 the
groom a few years older
• No man or woman could marry more than
person at any time
16. ROME
Ceremony
• The couple would say their wedding vows, a
roman quote
• Then they would make sacrifices to various gods
and goddesses
• Then the whole wedding prossession would return
to the father of the brides house for a feast
• The happy couple would then return to the
husbands home to be united
17. ROME
Brides
• When roman woman were married they did
what their mothers in law told them to
• After the birth of a first child especially a boy
the wife gained more power
• If a divorce occurred children would stay with
their father and no their mother
• The bride would wear a veil
18. CANADA
Marriage Laws
• Anyone above the age of 19 is allowed to be
married
• Anyone between the ages of 17 and 19 must have
both parents agree
• People 16 and younger have to permission from
supreme court
• One half of the couple has to apply for a marriage
license
19. CANADA
Brides
• Usually between the ages of 19 and 50 some
exceptions
• Wear any type of dress really but mostly long and
white
• Are proposed to by their boyfriend or spouse
• Has a bachelorette party the night before the
ceremony
• Has a maid of honor and bridesmaids
20. CANADA
Grooms
• Usually wear tuxedos or suits
• Similar ages to brides
• Buy engagement rings and propose to
girlfriend or spouse
• Has a bachelor party the night before
ceremony
• has best men
21. CANADA
Ceremony
• Sometimes in a church, but other locations too
• The couple say their vows sometime self-
written
• A priest usually present
• The bride will walk up the isle led my her
bridesmaids, guided by her father
• The groom waiting at the alter
22. CANADA
Reception
• Usually held at a restaurant
• Dinner and beverages are served
• The new couple with share a first dance
• Then the guests will dance too
• The cake is brought out, new trend cupcakes!
23. CANADA
Divorce
• The custody of children is decided in court
• Sometimes children spend all the time with
one parent, sometimes parents get equal
amounts of time, rarely are the children split
up some with each parent
• All these decisions are based on the best
interest of the child or children
24. CANADA
Divorce Cont.
• The value of the couples properties are divided
• If a divorce is not agreed upon in court it’s
called a seperation agreement
• Divorce is only official according to the
government if it’s taken care of in court
25. Bibliography
• Works Cited
• "Child Custody; Property Division; Divorce Procedure." Canadian Divorce Laws. canadiandivorcelaws.com, 2003. Web. 13 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.canadiandivorcelaws.com/divorce-procedure/>.
• "How To Get Married." Vital Statistics Agency. Government of B.C., 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/marriage/howto.html#eligible>.
• "Marriage and Family in Ancient Rome." History Link 102.com. N.p., 2000. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://www.historylink102.com/Rome/roman-
marriage.htm>.
• "Marriage in Ancient Egypt." King Tut Shop. Google, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. <http://www.kingtutshop.com/freeinfo/Marrage-in-Ancient-
Egypt.htm>.
• "Marriage in Ancient Greece." History Link 102 .com. N.p., 2000. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://www.historylink102.com/greece3/marriage.htm>.
• "Mothers in Ancient Mesopotamia." History Link 102.com. N.p., 2000. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://www.historylink102.com/Rome/roman-women-
marriage.htm>.
• Naranjo, Roberto. "Marriage in Ancient Mesopotamia and Babylonia." Ehistory.com. N.p., 1954. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.
<http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/articles/articleview.cfm?aid=58>.
• - - -. "Marriage in Ancient Mesopotamia and Babylonia." Ehistory.com. N.p., 1954. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.
<http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/articles/articleview.cfm?aid=58>.
• "Women." Ancient Mesopotamia for Kids.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. <http://mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/women.html>.
26. Picture Bibliography
• Works Cited
• Artist, Unknown. Marriage in Ancient Egypt. N.d. unknown.
• - - -. Unknown. N.d. Free Egypt. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://www.freeegypt.info/Pages/421/Wedding-Festivals-
Ancient-Egypt.html>.
• - - -. Unknown. N.d. Tour Egypt. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/marriage.htm>.
• - - -. Unknown. N.d. Museum. History Link 102. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.historylink102.com/greece3/marriage.htm>.
• - - -. Unknown. N.d. Museum. Get Married in P Town. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.getmarriedinptown.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ancient-roman-wedding-betrothal-jg1.jpg>.
• "Four Weddings Canada Recap." Weddingsbells. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.weddingbells.ca/fun/why-you-need-start-watching-four-weddings-canada/attachment/four-weddings-
canada-episode-4-recap/>.
• Jess. "Unknown." With a Flourish. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.
<http://withaflourishevents.blogspot.ca/2009_07_01_archive.html>. A really Canadian wedding cake.
• Lang, Edwin. Babylon Marriage Market. N.d. Oil on Canvas. Royal Holloway Collage.
• Leopoldo Costa. Unknown. N.d. S T R A V A G A N Z A. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.
<http://stravaganzastravaganza.blogspot.ca/2011/12/sumerian-family-life.html>.
• Unknown. N.d. Louvre. Mahanas. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. <http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Marriage.htm>.
