First, let me make 100 percent clear I'm not advocating any of the harsh punishments described here. I'm just curious about the topic. In the Old Testament in the Bible we hear of harsh punishments such as being stoned to death if a woman commits adultery. In other sources we hear of them being burned at the stake or hanged.

As I said, I don't advocate any of that. However, I do seek to understand. Did ancient civilizations have these harsh punishments because they recognized hypergamy and were trying to keep it in check? Or am I giving them too much credit for figuring out this concept?