Roman divorce customs were changed by Christian authorities when the Catholic Church became the official religion of Rome. Christian leaders believed divorce was immoral and marriage should be indissoluble. Catholic scholars believed celibacy was a superior spiritual state to marriage and that it was better to be married than commit the sin of fornication. Early Christian doctrines had a strong influence on divorce laws throughout Europe. In the 4th Century, St. Augustine and others proposed … [Read more...]
History of Divorce: Part II
The earliest recorded case of divorce in ancient Rome involved a patrician who divorces his wife because she was barren. Roman law also allowed men to divorce their wives for drinking wine, going to a public place of entertainment without consent, and other acts of moral perversity. A Roman husband had no duty to support his wife after a divorce for cause. Later, when Roman women attained the right to own property, they could sue for divorce as well. Marriages between Roman citizens were a … [Read more...]
The History of Divorce: Part I
Divorce has existed since humans began forming pair bonds and raising children together. Among hunter-gatherer tribes divorce was probably informal compared with modern practices, but we have no solid evidence about how they terminated long-term sexual relationships. Divorce among farming and ranching communities was more formal, but the rules and rituals of divorce, the grounds justifying dissolution, and the ease of getting a divorce have varied enormously throughout history. Divorce in … [Read more...]
