Diuretic;442192 wrote: I read somewhere the idea of romantic love was invented by the French during mediaeval times and was associated with chivalry and courtly manners etc.
Arranged marriages have been a feature of many cultures historically and indeed today and seem to work. I saw a documentary on arranged marriages where the wife said she grew to love her husband. I suppose the argument could be made that a marriage that starts from a romantic liaison can degenerate to the point where the couple hates each other so that's not a surefire formula.
Okay if I haven't upset every single person reading the thread I have to say, to each their own when it comes to relationships.

What have you said that would be upsetting?
I think much of this may depend on what marriage means to a person. For some it's more business contract than it is romance. Some get married for companionship and security rather than because they are in love.
I too have read that stuff about chivalry and the medieval era creating the concept of romance. I'm not sure I go for it though. Creating chivalry, perhaps but I think romantic love has been around much longer.
