With the popularity of historical films, later generations can gain a better understanding of the lives of ancient people. One of the most perplexing aspects is the occurrence of marriages between families for mutual benefit, leading to the phenomenon of “inter-family marriages.”
This phenomenon was not only found in the general population but was also common among royal families.
Why Did Inbreeding Occur in the Past Without a Significant Increase in Intellectual Disabilities?
Regardless of circumstances, the phenomenon of “inter-family marriages” was prevalent in ancient times, leading to unforeseen consequences. As we know, inbreeding, especially within three generations, significantly increases the chances of producing children with intellectual disabilities. But why were there seemingly no cases of intellectually disabled children being born in ancient times? The answer is quite simple.
Many prominent families used “inter-family marriages” to maintain power. (Illustrative image).
Firstly, we must consider the issue of marriage; in China and indeed around the world, there is a common belief that only relatives would help each other and would not harm one another. Due to this mindset, to strengthen their status, certain powerful families would resort to “inter-family marriages” to maintain their power and expand their number of members.
Polygamous Marriages
As we know, during the feudal era, the phenomenon of male superiority and female subordination was severe, with women holding a low status and relying heavily on men. Consequently, most men of that time had multiple wives and concubines, while emperors possessed harems with thousands of beauties.
Although relatives could marry each other, the prevalence of men having multiple wives reduced the likelihood of a wife from the same family becoming pregnant with a child with developmental issues.
A Vast Family Network
Anyone familiar with ancient history knows that sharing a surname can often imply a familial relationship. If a daughter marries into another village, a new branch of the family tree is created. This significantly expands the network of familial connections.
Thus, situations arose where, despite appearing to be relatives, individuals were not actually blood relatives or were distantly related, which minimized the chances of producing problematic offspring.
In ancient times, many couples with shared bloodlines had no children. (Illustrative image).
Inter-Relative Marriages Without Offspring
Another reason why couples from the same bloodline did not have children is that pregnancy and childbirth in ancient times were not easy. Therefore, the incidence of developmental issues in children was also reduced.
Not Documented in Historical Records
In reality, the repercussions of “inbreeding” can be quite severe; it not only has the potential to devastate a family but also delays the healthy life of future generations.
History and science demonstrate that relatives should not marry each other due to the unpredictable consequences. In ancient times, a child born with health issues often became a significant burden for a typical family, requiring a lifetime of effort and financial resources to care for the child.
Moreover, the birth of an intellectually disabled child was often viewed negatively, even considered an omen in ancient times. As a result, such cases were rarely recorded in historical texts, leading future generations to lack an accurate understanding of this situation.
From the reasons mentioned above, we can conclude that while instances of “inter-family marriages” were common in ancient times, it was rare for fetuses to encounter significant issues.
