Is marriage a western concept that was brought to the rest of the world? Or have life long partnerships grown out of all cultures separately?

by emptyglasses
UnGauchoCualquiera

This question is probably more appropriate at /r/AskAnthropology rather than here.

Sluggian

Within recorded history, it has definitely appeared independently. We have a memoir from Japan specifically about the female perspective on married life in the 900's, long before European contact. It's called The Gossamer Years in English, and is very interesting. LONG before that (c. 1200 BC), the Oracle Bones of the late Shang Dynasty in China asked questions like "Will the queen's birth be easy?" and the like.

Looking at your question, it seems like the sort that gets asked on here to settle an argument, so if you've got something more specific to ask, we might be able to help you more.