In Coontz’ book, she refers back to the history of marriage and the family in Europe, Asia, and other regions of the world during various time periods. She typically describes the different influences and key factors to describe certain familial structures. One family structure she argues is prominent during the early part of the second millennium was the conjugal nuclear family. One key factor, Coontz argues, why this family structure was important in Europe was because, “the bride had to have a dowry, which effectively undercut the independence of a young woman from her parents” (106-107). The requirement of dowries in Europe where typically used by the newlywed couple to find a plot of land, build a house, and start a family. Therefore,
