Btw, the European norm is a courtship of one to two years. This allows multiple suitors and the family to really get to know who they are bringing into the family. While exceptions were common (example, small village where everyone already knows everyone), it really meant procreation didn't occur until one to two years after permission of courtship and marriage followed. A girl of 12 may not marry until 14 or later, depending on her menstruation. As menstruation was the actual lower age. If she didn't menstruate until 14, then she wouldn't likely marry and have sex until 15 or 16. In either case, the girl wasn't predated upon, and was honored and protected from would-be abusers. And society itself was setup to protect them and their families' best interests.