Ashwin Lewis
It is a widely circulated myth that people in the past slept sitting upright, leaning against the headboard. This myth is often accompanied by the explanation that people believed that bad air was heavier than fresh air, so sleeping with an elevated head kept the nose above the bad air. However, this explanation lacks historical evidence, and while people did sleep with their heads elevated for medical reasons, most people did not sleep sitting fully upright. Instead, they slept in the same positions as we do today, with the beds of the time being equal to or exceeding the size of a modern double bed. Additionally, people in preindustrial Europe slept in two separate segments, with a period of wakefulness in between, which was used for various activities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time Period | 17th-Century-19th Century |
| Location | Europe, United States |
| Sleep Position | Sitting up, propped up, curled up |
| Reasons | Lying down was associated with death, to create a gentle slope from the head to the stomach to aid digestion, to align organs properly, to create better overall health, to avoid "bad air", to conserve heat |
| Sleep Patterns | Two-part sleep, with a period of wakefulness in between |
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What You'll Learn
- People in the Middle Ages slept sitting up due to a fear of assuming the posture of the dead
- Sleeping sitting up was believed to align organs properly and create better overall health
- In the 18th century, people would sleep in two parts, with a period of wakefulness in between
- Sleeping with an elevated head was adopted to create a gentle slope from the head to the stomach to aid digestion
- In the 16th and 17th centuries, lying down was associated with death, so people slept in a half-upright position
People in the Middle Ages slept sitting up due to a fear of assuming the posture of the dead
Sleeping habits have changed significantly over the years, and one notable aspect is the posture in which people slept. While it is often claimed that people in the Middle Ages slept sitting up due to a fear of assuming the posture of the dead, the evidence for this is limited.
The idea that people in the Middle Ages slept sitting up is a widely circulated notion, often shared by tour guides and bed vendors when showcasing historical homes or castles. It is said that beds from that era were shorter because people slept upright, leaning against the headboard or propped up on pillows. However, this belief has been questioned, and there is little historical evidence to support it.
One reason cited for this supposed sleeping posture is the association between lying down and death. It was believed that assuming a fully reclined position was akin to the posture of the dead, and sleeping upright was a way to avoid that association. This belief was particularly attributed to the late Middle Ages in Europe, with references to Box Beds in Brittany and closet-beds in the Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries.
However, it is important to note that the primary sources from that era do not provide substantial evidence for this practice. While artists depicted individuals sitting up in bed, it was generally because they were awake. For example, Rembrandt's drawing of his wife sleeping does not provide clear evidence of whether she was propped up or not. Additionally, medical books from the 15th to 18th centuries advised sleepers to lie on their right side during the first sleep and then turn to their left side, indicating that sleeping on one's side was a common practice.
Furthermore, the size of beds in the Middle Ages does not necessarily support the notion that people slept sitting up. While some sleeping arrangements were short, accommodating a sitting position, others were equivalent to modern double beds, suggesting that people slept in various positions, including curled up, stretched out, or on their sides, just as they do today.
In conclusion, while the idea that people in the Middle Ages slept sitting up due to a fear of death is intriguing, the available evidence suggests that this may not have been a widespread practice. The belief may have arisen from interpretations of artwork, bedding sizes, and speculative explanations provided by tour guides and vendors. However, without further historical or ethnological research, it is challenging to confirm or refute this notion conclusively.
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Sleeping sitting up was believed to align organs properly and create better overall health
Sleeping fully upright was not a common practice in the past. However, it is believed that some people slept in a half-upright position, propped up with pillows. This belief is based on the shorter length of beds in historical times, as well as artwork and descriptions from historical texts. For example, in the Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries, closet-beds were much smaller, and lying down was associated with death, so people slept in a half-upright position. Similarly, in Brittany, closed-beds were long enough for people to sleep in a nearly sitting position, leaning on three or four pillows.
While the shorter beds may provide some evidence for this practice, it is important to note that the height of the beds does not necessarily indicate that people slept sitting up. The beds may have been designed to accommodate people sleeping in a variety of positions, such as curled up or stretched out, just as they do today. Additionally, the presence of multiple pillows does not necessarily indicate that people slept sitting up, as pillows could also be used for comfort or medical reasons.
One common belief about sleeping sitting up is that it was done to avoid "bad air." The idea was that bad air was heavier than fresh air, so sleeping with an elevated head position kept the nose above the bad air. However, this theory has been debunked by experts who have found no evidence in historical medical texts to support it.
Another reason people may have slept sitting up was for medical purposes. For example, people with upper respiratory conditions or those recovering from certain types of surgery were advised to sleep with their heads elevated. Additionally, some individuals, like Stonewall Jackson, believed that sleeping sitting up aligned their organs properly and promoted better overall health.
Overall, while there is some evidence that sleeping sitting up may have been practiced to some degree in the past, it was likely not a common or regular occurrence for most people. The idea that people routinely slept in a fully upright position is mostly a myth.
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In the 18th century, people would sleep in two parts, with a period of wakefulness in between
Sleeping habits have changed a lot over the years. In the 18th century, sleeping in two parts with a period of wakefulness in between was a common practice. This schedule was the norm in pre-industrial Europe, as noted by historians like A. Roger Ekirch. People would go to bed a few hours after dusk and sleep for a short period, followed by a period of wakefulness where they would pray, read, have sex, write, talk, or even visit friends. This was then followed by a longer period of sleep. This practice of "segmented sleep" or "biphasic sleep" was also described in 17th-century medical texts, which recommended an elevated sleeping position to aid digestion.
The idea of an uninterrupted eight-hour sleep is relatively modern, becoming common only with the advent of artificial lighting and the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Before that, people in pre-industrial societies often slept in two segments, with the first sleep considered the most indispensable and restorative. The period of wakefulness in between was a time for quiet meditation or prayer before the second sleep, which led towards dawn.
The concept of segmented sleep also aligned with early modern beliefs about the natural rhythms of night and day. Doctors emphasized the importance of following the course of nature, waking during the day, and sleeping at night. They believed that sunrise triggered a chain of events in the sleeper's body, opening pores and causing spirits to spring outwards. Similarly, the setting sun signalled the body's descent as heat and blood retreated inward. Confounding this natural rhythm by oversleeping or undersleeping was considered resisting the natural order.
While the practice of segmented sleep may seem odd to modern sleepers, it was a natural part of daily life in the 18th century. The length of the first and second sleeps could vary depending on the season, with longer hours of sleep during the long, dark winter months. The period of wakefulness in between was a time for social interaction, intimacy, and reflection.
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Sleeping with an elevated head was adopted to create a gentle slope from the head to the stomach to aid digestion
It is a common misconception that people used to sleep sitting up. This idea is often explained by the belief that "'bad air' was heavier than fresh air, so sleeping with an elevated head kept one's nose above the bad air." However, there is little historical evidence to support this claim.
While people in the past did not sleep sitting fully upright, they did adopt an elevated sleeping position. 17th-century medical texts from Great Britain indicate that this position was chosen to create a gentle slope from the head to the stomach, aiding digestion. This practice was also recommended for those with upper respiratory conditions or those recovering from certain types of surgery.
The notion of sleeping with an elevated head can be found in various sources. For example, the French physician Charles Gabriel Le Clerc advised physicians on how to make a bed where one sits upright for medical reasons. Similarly, the health-conscious Stonewall Jackson believed that sleeping in an upright position aligned his organs properly and improved his overall health.
Additionally, there are references to Europeans during the late Middle Ages preferring to sleep upright rather than lying down. This preference was due to the association between lying down and death. For instance, in Brittany, closed-beds were long enough for the small inhabitants to sleep in a nearly sitting position, leaning on three or four pillows. Similarly, during the 16th and 17th centuries in the Netherlands, lying down was associated with death, so sleeping was done in a half-upright position.
The idea of sleeping in two parts, with a period of wakefulness in between, was also common in the 18th century. During this time, people would often sleep for a short period, followed by a period of wakefulness for activities like prayer, reading, or visiting friends, before returning to sleep for a longer period.
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In the 16th and 17th centuries, lying down was associated with death, so people slept in a half-upright position
It is a common misconception that people slept sitting up in the past because beds were shorter. This idea is often explained by the belief that "'bad air' was heavier than fresh air, so sleeping with an elevated head kept one's nose above the bad air." However, this theory lacks historical evidence. While people did sleep with their heads elevated for medical reasons, there is no proof that they did so to avoid bad air.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, lying down was associated with death, so people in the Netherlands slept in a half-upright position. This belief led to the construction of small closet-beds that only allowed for a sitting position. Similarly, in Brittany, closed-beds were long enough for people to sleep in an almost sitting position, leaning on three or four pillows.
However, it is important to note that most people did not sleep fully upright with their backs against the wall or headboard. Instead, they slept in a variety of positions, including curled up, stretched out, on their backs, stomachs, or sides, just as we do today. The belief that people slept sitting up is a myth, and historical beds were often the equivalent of modern double beds in size.
The idea that people slept sitting up may have originated from medical texts advising patients with respiratory conditions or specific surgeries to sleep with their heads elevated. Additionally, some individuals like Stonewall Jackson believed that sleeping upright aligned their organs properly and improved their health. However, these practices were not the norm for the general population.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no historical evidence that people slept sitting fully upright. However, some sources suggest that people slept in a half-upright position, propped up with pillows. This was due to the association of lying down with death. Others suggest that people slept with their heads elevated for medical reasons, as it was believed that bad air was heavier than fresh air.
People slept in a sitting up or half-upright position due to the association of lying down with death. It was believed that assuming the posture of the dead would allow death to take their souls. Additionally, some sources suggest that people slept with their heads elevated to avoid breathing in bad air, which was thought to be heavier than fresh air.
There is evidence that people slept in a sitting up or half-upright position in the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in Europe and early America. This practice may have continued until the 19th century.
