History of the family History of the family The history of the family is a branch of social history that concerns the sociocultural evolution of kinship groups from prehistoric to modern times. The family has a universal and basic role in all societies. Research on the history of the family crosses disciplines and cultures, aiming to understand the structure and function of the family from many viewpoints. For example, sociological, ecological or economical perspectives are used to view the interrelationships between the individual, their relatives, and the historical time. The study of family history has shown that family systems are flexible, culturally diverse and
Alms Alms Alms (, ) or almsgiving involves giving to others as an act of virtue, either materially or in the sense of providing capabilities (e.g. education) free. It exists in a number of religions and regions. The word, in the modern English language, comes from the Old English "ælmesse", "ælmes", from Late Latin "eleemosyna", from Greek ἐλεημοσύνη "eleēmosynē" ("pity, alms"), from ἐλεήμων, "eleēmōn" ("merciful"), from ἔλεος, "eleos" ("pity"). In Judaism, "tzedakah" - a Hebrew term literally meaning righteousness but commonly used to signify "charity" - refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just. Contemporary tzedakah is