Why in ancient times anything but a pure wife was rejected, but some men married widows?
Men didn't prefer virgins because they got to be the first. It was about legacy. Everything they had and were would be passed on to a son, and they wanted to make sure that boy really was his son.
The Short Answer
Men didn't prefer virgins because they got to be the first. It was about legacy. Everything they had and were would be passed on to a son, and they wanted to make sure that boy really was his son. Marrying a virgin helped ensure this. Not only could the husband be sure she was not pregnant with another man's child, but she had followed the norm of society, and could be expected to continue to do so when married. Conversely, a woman known to have had sex out of marriage defied society, was considered a harlot who could not be trusted to remain faithful. In this scheme, a widow is almost as good as a virgin. She followed the rules and just had an unlucky break, so there was no reason to believe she would be any less faithful. Also, widows often inherited their husband's property and were more wealthy than a young woman still living with her family.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Sure, virgin, followed
This explanation focuses on sure, virgin, followed and spans 159 words across 9 sentences. At 121% above the average History explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Men didn't prefer virgins because they got to be the first.” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 9 connected points.
How This Compares in History
Ranked #22 of 500 History questions by answer depth (top 5%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why why in ancient times anything but a pure wife was rejected, but some men married widows?
Men didn't prefer virgins because they got to be the first. It was about legacy. Everything they had and were would be passed on to a son, and they wanted to make sure that boy really was his son. Marrying a virgin helped ensure this. Not only…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar History questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 159 words, ranked #22 of 500 History questions by depth. The key concepts covered are sure, virgin, followed.
What approach does this answer take to explain why in ancient times anything but a pure wife was rejected, ?
The explanation uses root cause analysis and contrasting perspectives across 159 words. It is categorized under History and addresses the question through 2 analytical lenses.