04-26-2017, 02:33 PM
The aristocracy kept their genealogies -- at least the male part. Mennonites were surprisingly good at keeping records (I found that the typical marriage involving the Old Order Amish involves about fourth cousins).
Illiterate peasants rarely kept theirs. After all, they might be related to the Lord of the Manor. Droit du seigneur and all that.
Persians? I would not be surprised if Armenian, Byzantine, or Georgian ancestors on occasion got Persian wives in 'hostage' dealing; basically it was easier to keep a peace treaty if recent enemies had married into each others' families.
Illiterate peasants rarely kept theirs. After all, they might be related to the Lord of the Manor. Droit du seigneur and all that.
Persians? I would not be surprised if Armenian, Byzantine, or Georgian ancestors on occasion got Persian wives in 'hostage' dealing; basically it was easier to keep a peace treaty if recent enemies had married into each others' families.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.