Who was the first one, was it men or was it women?

[coia7925]

A man has had rights far longer than a woman could claim them, yet marriage existed way back when a man would consider a woman as a property, a material item he could simply own. He still chose to marry, is that a sign it was the man who had the romantic notions about together forever? lol x

[Andrea4265]

interesting question......I think marriage goes kind of hand in hand with religions ... am not only talking about catholics, Muslims ... etc now......even in the tribes there is a shaman who is the religious or cult or w/e u want to call him leader......leaders usually come up with ideas ...and to get to the point ... in any religion the leaders were and still are at most of the time MEN......so I would have to say that men came up with the idea of marriage......as a union of a man and a woman in the eyes of public so that everybody knows that they are taken now ... no longer available for courting......King now you got me thinking ... lol ... am gonna do a bit of research later on ... lol ... if I find smt interesting I will add it...lol...

[LouiseC4332]

I think it is natural for people to live in family groups. It's what most primates do, and I think it just evolved naturally, rather than being 'suggested' by anyone.

[juicyah]

men to protect there women

[AndrewM4781]

Realy hard this one, i'm thinking about it!!!

[zeconiferz11]

I think societies as a whole produced the idea of a partnership. In a primitive society it ensured that men had someone to care for their seed and feed them, and for women it provided a hunter and protector. Obviously the ideas of sexual commitment etc. came later, but the relationship is a great example of synthesis. For everyone saying marriage ie the church version is a woman's idea, men, even in most modern religious organizations, not just Catholicism, were in charge and created most of the religious doctrines.

[clvr1001]

I think if we look at other species of mammals, our answer becomes clear. Animals all over the world form family groups to ensure their survival, and often a female and male form lifetime bonds and practice monogomous relationships. Other mammals are not as highly evolved as human's, and every member of the family group has a 'role' within that family group.It seems this is behaviour that comes naturally, not just to mammals but to many species of animals. Originally, it was necessary to ensure survival of the species. But as human's are now so evolved and somewhat 'indulged', the traditional concept of marriage has changed and is more commonly about choice.In some cultures, marriage is still very much forced upon (very young) girls by her father (to a much older male). It is entirely about doing a financial deal, and is hardly about choice (for the girl at least - She basically becomes a slave to him). So looking at this very real and existing circumstances, one could hardly argue against the fact it is men who invented this institution of marriage, as a business deal, as a way to 'own' and control women and have their own personal slaves.