Ashwin Lewis
There is evidence to suggest that humans used to sleep in two phases, known as biphasic sleep. This sleep pattern, which involves a person getting two sleep periods in a day, was common in various parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, North America, South Asia, and Australia, before the industrial era. References to this system of sleeping twice can be found in works by Plutarch, Pausanias, Livy, and Virgil, as well as in medieval literature such as Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. The practice was also embraced by Christians, who used the time between sleeps to recite psalms and confessions. While biphasic sleep may have been the norm in the past, the modern world has largely shifted to a monophasic sleep schedule, with artificial lighting and societal expectations pushing bedtimes later.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Historical References | References to biphasic sleep have been found in classical works by Plutarch, Pausanias, Livy, and Virgil. It was also mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" and William Baldwin's "Beware the Cat". |
| Historical Practice | Biphasic sleep, or segmented sleep, was a common practice in pre-industrial societies across Europe, Africa, North America, South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Australia. |
| Timing | The first sleep typically started in the early evening and lasted until around midnight, followed by a period of wakefulness for one to two hours, and then the second sleep until dawn. |
| Activities During Wakefulness | During the intervening period of wakefulness, people would relax, ponder their dreams, have sex, sew, chop wood, or read by moonlight or oil lamps. |
| Decline | The practice of biphasic sleep began to decline in the late 17th century, starting with the upper classes in Northern Europe and gradually spreading to the rest of Western society. The Industrial Revolution and the introduction of artificial lighting also contributed to the shift towards monophasic sleep. |
| Health Implications | While some people find biphasic sleep beneficial, recent studies suggest that sleeping in multiple phases may adversely affect physical and mental health and is not recommended for everyone. |
| Modern Practice | Some modern cultures, such as Spain, Italy, China, and Scandinavian countries, still practice biphasic sleep in the form of an afternoon siesta or a short nap. |
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What You'll Learn
References to biphasic sleep in classical texts
The practice of biphasic sleep, or sleeping twice, is referenced in classical texts from the ancient world. The earliest reference found by historian Roger Ekirch dates back to the 8th century BC in the Greek epic The Odyssey.
Ekirch also found evidence of the practice in the works of illustrious figures from the classical era, including the Greek biographer Plutarch (1st century AD), the Greek traveller Pausanias (2nd century AD), the Roman historian Livy, and the Roman poet Virgil.
In his book 'At Day's Close: Night in Times Past', Ekirch unearthed more than 500 references to biphasic sleep, with mentions in letters, diaries, medical textbooks, philosophical writings, newspaper articles, and plays. The practice is also referenced in ballads, such as "Old Robin of Portingale".
In addition to these classical references, biphasic sleep is mentioned in medieval literature, including Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" (written between 1387 and 1400) and the poet William Baldwin's "Beware the Cat" (1561).
References to biphasic sleep can also be found in Spanish literature, as described in the 16th-century novel "Don Quixote de la Mancha" by Cervantes. In this novel, Cervantes correlates the biotypes of Quixote and Sancho with their temperaments, sleeping habits, and eating habits.
Biphasic sleep was a common practice in the pre-industrial world, and these references in classical texts suggest that it was already widespread in the ancient world.
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Pre-industrial sleep patterns
Before the advent of electricity, humans had different sleep patterns than they do today. In the pre-industrial era, it was common for people in many parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, North America, South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Australia, to follow a segmented sleep pattern, also known as biphasic, diphasic, bimodal, or polyphasic sleep. This involved a "first" and "second" sleep, with a period of wakefulness in between.
The practice of segmented sleep has been referenced in various texts from the classical era, including works by Plutarch, Pausanias, Livy, and Virgil. It was also embraced by Christians, who used the time between sleeps for the recital of psalms and confessions. In the 6th century AD, Saint Benedict required that monks rise at midnight for these activities, and the practice spread throughout Europe.
During the pre-industrial era, sleep onset was determined not by a set bedtime but by whether there were things to do. People typically retired a couple of hours after dusk, woke up a few hours later for about an hour or two, and then had a second sleep until dawn. This period of wakefulness was used for various activities, including relaxation, pondering dreams, having sex, sewing, chopping wood, or reading by the light of the moon or oil lamps.
The practice of segmented sleep began to change with the Industrial Revolution, which brought a "sleep is for wimps" attitude. By the early 19th century, the first sleep began to expand at the expense of the second sleep, and the intervening period of wakefulness decreased. The invention of artificial lighting, particularly the light bulb by Thomas Edison in the late 19th century, also played a role in shifting sleep patterns, allowing people to stay up later and pushing their bedtimes later.
While the idea of returning to segmented sleep has been suggested as a remedy for modern sleep disorders, experts caution that more research is needed. Some modern cultures still practice a form of biphasic sleep, such as the afternoon siesta in Spain, Italy, China, and Scandinavian countries, but this is usually a short nap of less than an hour. Overall, the modern sleeping pattern of a single stretch of sleep at night, known as monophasic sleep, is considered optimal for most people, with biphasic and polyphasic sleep associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes.
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The impact of artificial lighting
The widespread adoption of artificial lighting has had a significant impact on human sleep patterns. The invention of the light bulb by Thomas Edison in the late 19th century allowed people to stay active and push their bedtimes later into the evening. This gradually led to the disappearance of the segmented sleep pattern, also known as biphasic, diphasic, bimodal, or polyphasic sleep, which was once common in various parts of the world.
Artificial lighting has played a crucial role in the shift from biphasic sleep to monophasic sleep, where people sleep in a single stretch at night. With the availability of artificial light, individuals could extend their waking hours, gradually consolidating their sleep into one longer period. This change in sleep patterns occurred over centuries, with references to biphasic sleep disappearing as early as the late 17th century in upper-class Northern Europe and spreading to the rest of Western society over the next 200 years.
The introduction of gas lighting in British streets around 1807 and the later advent of electricity further contributed to the decline of biphasic sleep. The availability of artificial lighting allowed people to extend their activities into the night, gradually adjusting their sleep patterns to align with the modern monophasic sleep schedule.
Today, monophasic sleep is widely recommended for optimal health, with experts suggesting seven or more hours of continuous sleep per night. While biphasic sleep was once common, it is now considered unpopular and potentially detrimental to physical and mental health for most people. However, some individuals in modern society still adopt biphasic sleep, especially in the form of short naps during the day, and there is growing evidence of the benefits of napping for memory, learning, alertness, and mood.
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The benefits of biphasic sleep
Humans in preindustrial societies used to sleep in two segments, with a break of a few hours in between. This practice of biphasic sleep was common around the world, even in cultures near the equator, and was referenced in classical works by Plutarch, Pausanias, Livy, and Virgil.
Biphasic sleep involves two sleep periods within a 24-hour cycle, usually a midday nap and a longer night-time sleep. It can be beneficial in the following ways:
Increased Total Sleep Time
Biphasic sleep can help people who don't sleep enough at night, such as those working night shifts or suffering from sleep deprivation, to get more overall rest. It may be especially relevant for those caring for babies or those who don't get enough sleep in a single sleep phase.
Improved Energy and Brain Function
A short midday nap as part of biphasic sleep can improve energy levels, brain function, and overall health. A study of 23 young adults found that 30-minute afternoon naps improved participants' brain speed when completing memory tasks.
Avoidance of Intense Sunlight and Heat
People living in hot climates may benefit from biphasic sleep schedules to avoid intense sunlight and heat during the middle of the day.
Natural Circadian Rhythm Alignment
Some people may find that biphasic sleep feels more natural and aligns better with their circadian rhythms. Young children, for instance, do best with biphasic sleep.
Improved Overall Health
A large study of Mediterranean adults found that those who took 30-minute naps were 21% less likely to have high blood pressure than those who didn't nap. Biphasic sleep may also reduce the negative impact of artificial light on melatonin levels, which can disrupt sleep.
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Modern biphasic sleep cultures
Biphasic sleep refers to a sleep schedule where a person sleeps for two segments per day. This involves a longer night-time sleep and a shorter daytime nap. Some people in contemporary settings still adopt biphasic sleep to reduce the effects of lost sleep and maintain productivity.
Biphasic sleep was the norm in many cultures before the industrial era. The practice was referenced in classical works by Plutarch, Pausanias, Livy, and Virgil. Later, it was embraced by Christians, who used the waking period in the middle of the night for the recital of psalms and confessions. In the 6th century AD, Saint Benedict required monks to rise at midnight for these activities, and the idea spread throughout Europe.
Geoffrey Chaucer's *The Canterbury Tales* (written between 1387 and 1400) and William Baldwin's *Beware the Cat* (1561) also mention the concept of "first sleeps". By the early 19th century, the first sleep began to expand at the expense of the second sleep, and the intervening period of wakefulness. The Industrial Revolution and the spread of artificial lighting contributed to this shift, as people began to view sleep as a waste of time.
Today, biphasic sleep is still found in certain Middle Eastern cultures, as well as in Latin America and the Mediterranean, where people take afternoon naps or siestas. In some predominantly Muslim cultures, biphasic sleep allows people to complete the five prayers required every 24 hours. However, the expansion of artificial light and modern work schedules has made biphasic sleep less common.
Some people who have difficulty sleeping through the night report that adjusting to a biphasic sleep pattern has improved their quality of life. However, doctors emphasize that more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of segmented sleep. There are also potential drawbacks, as some studies have linked napping to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, falls, and cognitive decline in older people.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is evidence that humans used to sleep in two phases, also known as biphasic, diphasic, bimodal, or segmented sleep.
There is evidence that humans slept twice a day in ancient Greece, and throughout the classical era. The practice continued into the medieval period, and was common in preindustrial societies.
The first sleep session usually lasted about four hours, after which people would wake up and participate in various activities, including house chores, visiting neighbours, telling stories, or talking about their dreams.
The practice of sleeping through the whole night became more common after the invention of artificial lighting, particularly after Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb in the late 19th century.
