Marriage
Marriage is a socially and often legally recognized union between individuals, practiced in various forms across virtually all human societies throughout recorded history.
Taking remarkably different forms across different cultures and historical periods, this near-universal social institution continues evolving significantly even in the modern era.
A Near-Universal Human Institution
Marriage exists in some recognized form across virtually all documented human societies throughout history, though its specific practices, purposes, and social meanings have varied enormously across different cultures.
Historical Functions
Historically, marriage often served significant practical functions beyond personal romantic partnership, including property arrangements, political alliances, and formal structures for raising children.
Evolving Legal Recognition
Marriage laws have evolved significantly over recent decades in many countries, including expanded legal recognition of marriage between individuals of the same sex in a growing number of nations.
Changing Global Marriage Patterns
Marriage rates and patterns have shifted significantly in many countries in recent decades, including delayed average age of marriage and changing social attitudes toward alternative family and partnership structures.
