Ashwin Lewis
Sleep habits, sleep advice, and beds have changed significantly over the years. Before the advent of electricity, people's sleep patterns were influenced by the length of nighttime, with some evidence suggesting that they slept longer during longer nights. In the Middle Ages, people often slept in two distinct periods, known as first sleep and second sleep, with a period of wakefulness in between. During this time, people would engage in various activities such as prayer, reflection, chores, or visiting friends. The concept of an uninterrupted eight-hour sleep is a relatively new phenomenon, and the evolution of sleep patterns can be attributed to cultural shifts, migration, and technological advancements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep patterns | Polyphasic sleep, biphasic sleep, segmented sleep |
| Sleep surfaces | Piles of straw, mattresses stuffed with fabrics and down, bed frames |
| Sleep duration | Two separate sleep segments, not eight hours of uninterrupted sleep |
| Sleep position | Sitting upright, leaning against the headboard |
| Sleep timing | Went to bed a few hours after dusk, woke up for "the watch" or "the hour of first sleep" |
| Sleep companions | Co-sleeping with babies and children, communal sleeping with other community members |
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What You'll Learn
People slept in two segments
Sleep patterns have changed over the years, influenced by cultural shifts, migration, and technological advancements. Before the advent of electricity, artificial lighting, and modern mattresses, our ancestors' sleep habits were notably different from our own.
One notable difference is the practice of segmented sleep or biphasic sleep, where people slept in two distinct segments or periods during the night. This sleep pattern was common during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and was known as "first sleep" and "second sleep". People would typically go to bed a few hours after dusk, wake up sometime after midnight, and then return to sleep until dawn. This period of wakefulness in between sleeps was known as "the watch".
During "the watch", people would take advantage of the time to get things done. They might tend to chores, add wood to the fire, take remedies, or even visit friends. Communal sleeping arrangements meant that people often had someone to chat with when they woke up. This period of wakefulness was also a time for prayer, reflection, sex, or reading by candlelight.
The practice of biphasic sleep is not limited to the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Anthropologists and historians, such as A. Roger Ekirch, have found evidence suggesting that segmented sleep was the norm in preindustrial Europe and may have been the dominant way of sleeping for millennia. The first record Ekirch found dates back to the 8th century BC in the Greek epic "The Odyssey", while the last hints of its existence were in the early 20th century.
The Industrial Revolution, with its long working days and regimented factory schedules, marked a shift away from biphasic sleep patterns. Artificial lighting also played a role in altering circadian rhythms, lengthening the first sleep and shortening the second. By the 19th century, the concept of a full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep had become more common, and the practice of biphasic sleep gradually faded from memory.
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The first and second sleep were of equal length
Sleep patterns have changed over the course of history. Before the modern era, it was common for people to sleep in two distinct segments, known as "first sleep" and "second sleep". This practice, known as biphasic or segmented sleep, was the norm in preindustrial Europe and during the Middle Ages.
The concept of "first and second sleep" refers to the practice of dividing nightly rest into two periods of roughly equal length. People would go to bed a few hours after dusk, sleep for a few hours, then wake up for a period of peaceful wakefulness before returning to sleep for the second period. This wakeful period in the middle of the night was known as "the watch". During this time, people would engage in various activities such as prayer, reflection, sex, chores, reading by candlelight, or visiting friends.
The practice of biphasic sleep is not limited to European cultures. Colonial accounts from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1555 describe how the Tupinambá people would eat dinner after their first sleep. Another account from 19th-century Muscat, Oman, mentions that the local people would retire for their first sleep before 10 p.m. Even in pre-modern times, some individuals noted that they would sleep in two segments.
The origin of biphasic sleep may date back to prehistoric times. The first record found by historian A. Roger Ekirch was from the 8th century BC in the Greek epic "The Odyssey". Biphasic sleep began to decline in popularity during the late 1600s, coinciding with the Industrial Revolution and the spread of artificial lighting. The length of the first and second sleep periods may have been influenced by artificial lighting, with the first sleep lengthening and the second sleep shortening over time.
Today, the idea of an uninterrupted eight-hour sleep is considered the norm in many parts of the world. However, this concept is relatively new, and it is interesting to explore how sleep habits have evolved throughout history.
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Sleep positions were different
During the Middle Ages, people usually went to bed around sunset and woke up sometime after midnight before returning to rest. This period of wakefulness was known as "the watch" and was used for various activities such as prayer, reflection, chores, or visiting friends. Medical books from the 15th to 18th centuries advised sleepers to lie on their right side during the first sleep and turn to their left side after.
In addition, the concept of sleeping sitting upright, leaning against the headboard, was also considered in the past. 17th-century medical texts from Great Britain indicate that an elevated sleeping position was adopted to aid digestion. However, it is unclear how common this practice was, and it may have been recommended primarily for health reasons, as people believed that "bad air" was heavier than fresh air.
The shift towards a monophasic sleep pattern, or sleeping for a single, continuous period, occurred with the advent of artificial lighting and the Industrial Revolution. Longer working days and regimented factory schedules made it difficult for people to maintain the biphasic sleep pattern. As a result, the second sleep was shortened, and the first sleep was lengthened, eventually leading to the modern norm of sleeping for seven to nine hours in a single stretch.
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Sleep patterns varied by social class
Sleep patterns have changed over the years due to cultural shifts, migration, and technological advancements. One of the most notable differences in sleep patterns across history is the practice of segmented sleep or biphasic sleep, where people would sleep in two separate periods, known as "first sleep" and "second sleep". This practice was common during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and was also observed in pre-industrial Europe and other parts of the world.
During the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, people would typically go to bed a few hours after dusk and experience a period of wakefulness between their two sleep segments. This time was often used for prayer, reflection, chores, or social activities. The practice of biphasic sleep is believed to have originated in the urban upper-class groups of northern Europe before spreading to the majority of Western civilization. For example, in a small village in 17th-century northern England, a mother and her daughter were recorded as waking up in the evening to smoke a pipe by the fireside.
Medieval monks also had unique sleep patterns. According to the Rule of St. Benedict, monks would go to bed around 7 pm and wake up at 2 am for Matins. While some monastic rules allowed for a second sleep, Benedictine monks were expected to stay awake or take a nap during the day.
The shift away from biphasic sleep began during the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. The introduction of artificial lighting allowed people to stay awake longer, lengthening the first sleep and shortening the second. The regimented factory schedules of the time also disrupted the traditional sleep patterns, as people had to wake up earlier to start their shifts.
In addition to social class, sleep patterns also varied across different cultures. For example, colonial accounts describe the Tupinambá people of 16th-century Brazil eating dinner after their first sleep, while in 19th-century Muscat, Oman, locals retired for their first sleep before 10 pm. In central African forager and farmer societies, infants sleep with their mothers or nearby on a mat, a practice known as co-sleeping.
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Sleep patterns varied by culture
Sleep patterns have indeed varied across cultures and throughout history. For example, during the Middle Ages, people typically slept in two periods during the night, known as "first sleep" and "second sleep". This practice, known as biphasic or segmented sleep, was also observed in pre-industrial Europe and the Renaissance, and was considered a regular habit during the late Middle Ages. The period of wakefulness between the two sleeps was known as "the watch", during which people might pray, reflect, have sex, do chores, read by candlelight, or visit friends.
The practice of biphasic sleep is suspected to have been the dominant way of sleeping for millennia, with the first record found in the 8th century BC in the Greek epic The Odyssey. It was also observed in various cultures around the world, such as the Tupinambá people in colonial Brazil and the local people in 19th-century Muscat, Oman.
Cultural and societal norms also influenced sleep patterns. For instance, medieval monks followed specific monastic rules for sleep, with Benedictine monks going to bed around 7 pm and waking up at 2 am, while other monks were allowed a second sleep or a nap during the day.
The concept of a continuous eight-hour sleep is relatively new, becoming possible due to artificial lighting allowing people to stay awake longer. Before the Industrial Revolution, people's sleep patterns were influenced by the length of the night, with longer sleep times in winter and shorter in summer.
Additionally, the way people slept was influenced by cultural beliefs and practices. For example, some believed that "bad air" was heavier than fresh air, so sleeping with an elevated head position was considered healthier. While this particular belief lacked historical evidence, 17th-century medical texts from Great Britain indicate that sleeping in an elevated position was adopted to aid digestion.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, before artificial lighting was invented, people would typically go to bed at sunset and wake up at sunrise.
No, it is believed that people in the past slept in two segments, with a period of wakefulness in between. This practice is known as biphasic or segmented sleep.
During this time, people would pray, reflect, have sex, do chores, read, visit friends, or tend to ordinary tasks such as adding wood to the fire.
In the past, people slept on makeshift surfaces like piles of straw. Later, primitive mattresses were fashioned out of stuffed fabrics, and down was introduced. It was also believed that sleeping in an elevated position was better for health and digestion.
