I've heard that the development of polygamy in regions of Africa and Arabia may have to do with high mortality rates and the effects of the hot climate on fertility. How much credence do these claims have | AskHistorians Archive Observer

I've heard that the development of polygamy in regions of Africa and Arabia may have to do with high mortality rates and the effects of the hot climate on fertility. How much credence do these claims have

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Dinocrocodile

/u/frogbrooks' excellent answer on sexuality and gender in Pre-Islamic Arabia indicates that the move away from polyandry to polygamy was primarily socially motivated.