article_snippet: But research shows that marriage in the 18th century was actually a mercenary affair in the vast majority of cases which saw many men marry to get many men hands on a woman's wealth.
article_snippet: Ms Laurence said: 'Mercenary marriages became the subject of much criticism, but it would seem that the zeitgeist was against the moralists. '
article_snippet: Western sensibilities react against the idea that marriage might be for reasons other than love of a partner and a desire to spend the rest of one's life with them.
article_snippet: We recognise no one has to get married to survive.
highlights_snippet: Study has revealed that marriage in the 18th century was  a mercenary affair .
  