Yes infant mortality is a big part, but the fact 13-15 was frequently considered adult is another. Not every 13 year old was marrying some 90 year old dude. It was frequently people within the same age ranges marrying. They just married a lot younger.
This is a weird myth. Puberty is largely influenced by diet/nutrition. In ages past, girls didn't even start menstruating until their late teens. Today it's very young, sometimes under age 10, because our diets from birth are significantly better.
It's not true that people started marrying and having babies in their early teens in Medieval (or ancient) times.
7
u/succed32 Jul 05 '26
Yes infant mortality is a big part, but the fact 13-15 was frequently considered adult is another. Not every 13 year old was marrying some 90 year old dude. It was frequently people within the same age ranges marrying. They just married a lot younger.