Religion and custom justified polygamy (or multiple wives) in many pre-industrial societies because 1) When nations ended wars or initiated trade agreements, one of the rival king’s daughters was often part of the treaty; 2) Primogeniture required male-only succession, so multiply wives multiplied a ruler’s chances of producing a male heir; 3) Having many wives and concubines emphasized a ruler’s wealth and power; 4) Patriarchy maintained that women and children were defenseless unless men helped them. In Islam, for example, caliphs might take in widows in times of war as an act of charity. The Latter-Day Saints in 19th-century Utah held similar beliefs. 5) Marrying mulltiple wives culturally and religiously sanctioned adultery and set up a double standard of morality since according to Ogden Nash, Hogamus, higamous Men are polygamous. Higgamus, hogamus, Women monogamous. 6) Finally, from a feminine point of view, it flattered the male ego.