Transformation of the Institution of Marriage in the History and Culture of Iran
Transformations connected with marriage and family creation are among the most important cultural changes in Iranian society in different historical epochs. These fundamental changes include the transformation of the form of marriage, changes in established norms, traditions and customs, changes in the structure and functions of the Iranian family in different historical periods. The course of cultural changes in Iranian society can be clearly traced by changes in the types of marriage in different periods: consanguineous marriage (Ancient Iran), monogamy, polygamy, temporary marriage and, finally, unregistered marriage. This article aims to study these changes and their impact on the culture of married life in Iran during historical periods. Despite serious upheavals throughout history and the transition of Iranian society from Zoroastrianism to Islam, in which, in turn, Sunnism was replaced by Shiism, the rites of marriage, although different, were always preserved in the social history of the Iranian people and performed a kind of a cultural function. The author identifies three periods in the development of marriage: (1) the era of Ancient Iran, (2) the era of the adoption of Islam before the Islamic Revolution, and (3) the era of the Islamic Republic. It is believed that marriage and family in Iran have gradually undergone many transformations under the influence of religious attitudes prevailing in society, the structure of Iranian rulers' political power, government propaganda, and radical cultural changes in each period. In general, the results of the study show that the institution of marriage and its traditions in the millenialong history of Iran have undergone unique functional and cultural changes in order to meet the needs of the Iranian family in cultural terms.