An arranged marriage is the union of a man and a woman made by someone other than the spouses (“Arranged” 1). Recent research has shown that arranged marriages may have originated during the Vedic period of Indian history (Chettri 1). Although many arranged marriages are generally based on the consent of the spouses, in some cases one or both are forced to marry without choice and in others they are too pressured to refuse (Reiss 1). Technically, arranged marriage is not a forced marriage, but parents are known to use disgusting methods that often resemble the latter, such as bribery, threats, or blackmail (Zuberi 1). Traditionally, parents began choosing their children's future spouse because, as stated in an article on GoodTherapy.org, "some cultures believe that a child's choice of spouse is best made by his or her parents." (1). The purpose of arranged marriage varies, the three traditional purposes were to help families politically, militarily and socially ("Arranged" 1). Often in history, the nobility viewed their children as a useful form of currency used to secure their children. families in a higher position. Arranged marriage was used to seal ties between families and bring together two powers. It was also seen as an extremely useful way of sealing many deals such as gaining support from other families or trading rights from others. If one were to marry another of higher status, his family would also benefit. As a result, families practiced arranged marriages to gain more wealth and more power over others, not for their children who were subjected to this choiceless fate (“Arranged” 1). These types of marriages were also used to meet military needs. Marriage often... middle of paper... yes, Fraidy. "About the arranged marriage." UnchainedAtLast.org. 2012. January 26, 2014. “Ring Resources: The Culture and History of Arranged Marriages.” LarsonJewelers.com. 2010. January 23, 2014. Ros, Maggi. “Love and Marriage”. Elizabethan.org. 2008. January 23, 2014.Saxena, Pragya. “Arranged marriage problems”. IndiaWest.com. 2007. January 25, 2014. “Tying the Knot.” Web-Japan.org: Trends in Japan. 1998. January 24, 2014.Zuberi, Hena. “An arranged marriage is not a forced marriage.” MuslimMatters.org. 2011. January 25 2014.