A dowry is the transfer of parental property to their son-in-law's family on the day of their daughter's wedding. Aside from a house or multiple houses, a dowry might include furniture, jewelry, clothing and, sometimes, money. The purpose of the dowry is to help set a daughter up in her new marriage and to provide for her in times of widowhood. In some cases, the dowry might also have items which are passed on to her own children.
Historically, dowries have been in existence since ancient times. They were widely used in ancient civilisations like Babylon, Greece, Rome, India and China. Their use continued into the Middle Ages and was widespread across Europe. Later, when the British colonised North America, they took with them the practice of dowries, though there is evidence that the Native Americans used dowries too.
While the custom of the dowry has virtually died out in the modern west, it remains popular in South Asia.
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