Short answers, pulled from the story.
A dowry is a payment such as land, property, money, livestock, or commercial asset paid by the bride's family to the groom or his family at the time of marriage. This transfer contrasts with bride price which flows from the groom to the bride's family.
The Code of Hammurabi in ancient Babylon described dowry as an already-existing custom even in its oldest available records. Daughters did not normally inherit any of their father's estate but received a dowry instead during this period.
Dowry remains widespread across India despite prohibition under the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961. Indian Muslims call dowry jahez classified into essential articles for conjugal life plus valuable goods settled after bargaining.
Between 0.6 and 2.8 brides per year per 100,000 women die because of dowry-related violence there. Acid throwing concentrated on the bride's face causes disfigurement and social isolation used by unhappy families.
Dowry was widely practiced across Europe until the early modern era with vast inheritances standard for aristocratic brides. Coverture introduced Norman changes to common law in the 12th century requiring property of a wife to be held in husband's name.