Abstract
This chapter addresses the role of health-related characteristics as a basis of marriage partner selection in a preindustrial population with a low level of social differentiation and a high level of mortality. We measured health characteristics by the level of infant and child mortality in the family of origin of the marriage partners. We observed a homogamous marriage pattern according to mortality in the family of origin. We argue that mortality in the family of origin was probably used to evaluate potential marriage partners. The level of infant and child mortality in a family can be seen as an indicator of health status, (future) social position, physical appearance, or reputation of the potential partner and his family.
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