The notion of “binding” two people together is a long-established ritual that spans period, region, and cultural background. It has evolved into the practice of wearing wedding rings today, but its roots are far less romantic.
Many cultures, including some African, Hindu, and Mexican, believed in literally tying the bride and groom together. In Mexican courtship history, the bride and groom are bound together at the wedding ceremony by a rope around their necks. Which, today, is a symbol of a whole other thing.
Medieval roots to the engagement ring are less symbolic of sharing love and more symbolic of women as property. As big, powerful nations got hungry for more and more land and subjects, there was a lot of raiding and conquering going on. It was pretty common for soldiers to raid a country, rob and pillage it for all its wealth, and kidnap the women to bring home as “wives.” These women returned to the soldiers' country in shackles, and some historians guess that the shackles evolved into what we know as the engagement ring. Think about that when Ben is hunting for the perfect engagement ring.
