Contractual marriage in Egypt let women transmit wealth and create a plutocratic class

Evidence

Later, this custom led to a type of contract remarkably favorable to women; the husband agreed to absolve her of her debt. There were serious punishments for adultery, but divorce was fairly open for the two spouses. The presence of contracts soundly restrained polygamy; women got possession of the wealth and transmitted it to their children, which brought about the creation of a plutocratic class. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 187

Categorization

• SHARE: Law-and-economics friend would enjoy the contractual innovation detail — marriage contracts that restrained polygamy and built a plutocratic class.
• XREF: connects to: The Greek dowry gave women minimal economic protection while staying within male guardianship