1. Marriage in some form or the other has existed since times immemorial. Anthropologists have made efforts to trace the history of marriage institutions but there is no consensus among them.

2. The evolutionary theory of Lewis Morgan based on certain rudimentary folkways and social practices concluded that in the earliest form of groupings of people, sex was absolutely un- regulated. Consequently the institution of family was not known.

3. Believing that as time passed the human societies had evolved from lower into higher types. Lewis Morgan set forth certain hypothetical stages in the evolution of marriage. Accordingly as he thought from the hypothetical state of promiscuity society must have evolved into group marriage, then polygamy and lastly monogamy.

4. Westermark on the other hand, is of the opinion that the history of marriage started with its monogamous form. He concluded this on the basis of his assumption that the male has by nature been an acquisitive and possessive creature.

5. Another anthropologist Robert Briffault claims that at the initial stage of marital relationship, mother had the supreme authority. He rejected patriarchy as claimed by Lewis Morgan and monogamy as claimed by Westmark to be the initial forms of marriage and family.

6. Sociology takes little interest in the origin and the initial forms of marriage. It is more concerned about the nature of marriage in civilized society and the changes that have taken place in this institution and in the forces responsible for this change.