How Husbands Cared for Their Wives in 1700
Sweety Karlak
Life in 1700 was dominated by agriculture, artisanal work, and small-town or rural communities. Marriage was often practical, sometimes arranged, and centered on survival, family honor, and mutual support. Care wasn’t always emotional — it was lived in labor, protection, and small gestures that made life possible.
💗 1. Providing Food, Shelter & Security Was the Foundation
Husbands showed care by ensuring the household could survive:
Tending crops or managing livestock
Maintaining the home and fences
Procuring firewood and water
Trading or selling goods for income
Security was love — without a safe, warm home, little else mattered.
🪚 2. Labor Was a Love Language
Men’s work was physically demanding, and showing care meant effort
Building barns, sheds, and tools
Hunting or fishing for family meals
Repairing roads, carts, and fences
Clearing fields and managing harvest.
Every act of toil was an act of devotion.
🌾 3. Marriage as a Partnership of Survival
Gender roles were strict: wives ran the domestic sphere, men ran the public and economic sphere. Yet life often required shared effort:
Harvesting together during peak seasons
Helping during illness or childbirth
Managing household emergencies
Survival created its own form of teamwork.
💬 4. Emotion Was Quiet but Present
Public displays of emotion were rare, but care could be expressed through:
Steadfast reliability
Protection from danger
Consistency in work and routine
Attending to small needs or comforts
Love was often shown in actions, not words.
📜 5. Letters and Tokens Were Precious
Travel for trade, military, or craft work was common.
A handwritten letter home was a rare but meaningful form of connection
A small gift — a ribbon, a scarf, or a special ingredient — carried deep sentiment
Distance made intentionality matter
🚪 6. Husbands as Protectors & Representatives
Husbands were the household’s public face:
Negotiating with neighbors, merchants, or authorities
Protecting property and family honor
Representing the family in legal or civic matters
Protection and leadership were intertwined with care.
🎁 7. Practical Gifts & Gestures Counted
Luxury was rare. Expressions of love included:
Tools for household use
Extra food or spices
Handcrafted items
Help with hard tasks
Every practical gift was a small demonstration of thoughtfulness.
🎶 8. Togetherness Was Built Around Daily Life
Evenings and Sundays offered moments for connection:
Reading aloud by candlelight
Walking to church or market
Singing, dancing, or storytelling
Quiet conversation while tending chores
Life was hard — small shared moments were precious.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Were gender roles strict?
Yes — men handled public and heavy work, women domestic duties.
2. Did most people marry young?
Often, especially in rural areas.
3. Was love a major factor in marriage?
Sometimes, but practical considerations dominated.
4. Did husbands express emotion openly?
Rarely; affection was usually quiet.
5. Did husbands help with domestic work?
Mostly only in emergencies or during seasonal labor.
6. How did couples spend free time?
Church, community gatherings, reading, storytelling, simple music.
7. Was divorce possible?
Extremely rare, socially and legally difficult.
8. How did husbands show care?
Through reliability, protection, practical gifts, and labor.
9. What shaped married life most?
Agriculture, survival, community expectations, and family duties.
10. What habits defined 1700 relationships?
Duty, teamwork, quiet devotion, and practical care.
