Herbie Murray
There is evidence to suggest that people in pre-industrial societies did not sleep through the winter. Instead, they slept in two shifts, a practice known as biphasic or segmented sleep. This involved a first and second rest period with a peaceful wake time in between. People would use this time for prayer, reflection, chores, reading, and visiting friends.
A study by UCLA researchers found that traditional hunter-gatherer groups in Tanzania, Bolivia, and Namibia went to sleep about 3.5 hours after sunset, sleeping for an average of 6.25 hours. They slept more in winter and less in summer, rarely waking up during the night.
The practice of biphasic sleep was also common during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, with references to it found in classical works by Plutarch, Pausanias, Livy, and Virgil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep duration | 6.25 hours on average, with longer sleep in winter and shorter sleep in summer |
| Sleep onset | 3.3-4.4 hours after sunset |
| Wake-up time | One hour before sunrise, earlier in winter than in summer |
| Napping | Rare |
| Biphasic sleep | Common in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, practised by upper-class groups in northern Europe and later by most of Western civilisation |
| Sleep surfaces | Makeshift, such as piles of straw, stuffed fabrics, or grass bedding with layers of ash |
| Sleep locations | Near the equator |
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What You'll Learn
- People in pre-industrial societies slept for around 6-7 hours in winter
- Biphasic sleep, or sleeping in two shifts, was common in the Middle Ages
- People in colder climates slept for half of the year
- Humans slept on makeshift surfaces like piles of straw
- Hunter-gatherers sleep for an average of 6.4 hours a day, with an extra hour in winter
People in pre-industrial societies slept for around 6-7 hours in winter
Sleep patterns have evolved over the years, and people's sleep habits have changed with the advent of industrialization. However, it is a myth that people in pre-industrial societies slept for significantly longer periods than we do today.
Research on pre-industrial sleep habits suggests that people in these societies slept for around 6 to 7 hours in the winter, with a similar duration of sleep in the summer. This challenges the idea that modern life and technology have reduced our sleep time. For example, a UCLA-led study of traditional peoples, including the Hadza of Tanzania, the San of Namibia, and the Tsimane of Bolivia, found that they averaged less than 6.5 hours of sleep and rarely napped.
The sleep patterns of these groups are thought to resemble those of our evolutionary ancestors. Additionally, a study of three pre-industrial societies found that sleep periods averaged 6.9 to 8.5 hours, with sleep durations of 5.7 to 7.1 hours, which is near the lower end of what is observed in industrial societies.
It is important to note that sleep onset occurred later, about 3.3 hours after sunset, and awakening occurred about an hour before sunrise. This indicates that people in pre-industrial societies stayed awake long after darkness fell and did not sleep for half of the day in winter, as some sources may suggest.
While the specific sleep duration may vary, the concept of biphasic or segmented sleep, where people slept in two shifts, was common in pre-industrial societies. This practice is referenced in historical texts and was observed in various parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. During the watch or wakeful period in the middle of the night, people would engage in activities such as prayer, reflection, chores, or social visits.
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Biphasic sleep, or sleeping in two shifts, was common in the Middle Ages
Sleep patterns have evolved over the years, with biphasic sleep, or sleeping in two shifts, being a common practice during the Middle Ages. This sleep pattern, also referred to as segmented sleep, involved a first and second rest period with a peaceful wake time in between. People would go to sleep about 3.5 hours after sunset and wake up for a period known as "the watch". During this time, people would engage in various activities such as prayer, reflection, chores, or visiting friends. The practice of biphasic sleep was not unique to any specific region, as evidence suggests it was widely practised in England, France, Italy, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Australia, South America, and the Middle East.
The origin of biphasic sleep can be traced back to ancient times, with references found in classical works by Plutarch, Pausanias, Livy, and Virgil. Later, Christians adopted this sleep pattern as an opportunity for the recital of psalms and confessions. The practice was common in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, with textual references supporting its existence. For example, a colonial account from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1555 described how the Tupinambá people would eat dinner after their first sleep. Additionally, an account from 19th-century Muscat, Oman, mentioned that the local people would retire for their first sleep before 10 p.m.
The average sleep duration during the Middle Ages was around 6.25 hours, with people sleeping more in winter and less during summer. This variation in sleep duration was influenced by the seasonal changes in temperature and light exposure. The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century brought about changes in work schedules, leading to the compression of sleep into a single cycle. As a result, the practice of biphasic sleep began to decline in the late 1600s.
The study of traditional peoples' sleep patterns, such as the Hadza, the San, and the Tsimane, has provided valuable insights into the sleep habits of pre-industrial humans. These studies challenge the notion that modern life has reduced sleep time compared to our ancestors. Instead, they suggest that the sleep habits of the industrialized world do not differ significantly from those that humans evolved to have.
While biphasic sleep was a common practice during the Middle Ages, it is important to note that sleep patterns also varied based on geographical location and cultural factors. The absence of modern technology and the different lifestyles of pre-industrial societies likely contributed to the variation in sleep habits.
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People in colder climates slept for half of the year
While people in colder climates today do not sleep for half of the year, there is evidence that people in the past may have slept in two shifts, with a period of wakefulness in between. This practice, known as biphasic or segmented sleep, was once common in northern Europe and other parts of the world. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, people would sleep for a few hours after sunset, wake up to tend to chores or other tasks, and then go back to sleep until dawn or later.
For example, in a small village in the north of England in 1699, a mother and her nine-year-old daughter, Jane Rowth, woke up from their first sleep to find two men at their window. The mother whispered to her daughter to stay in bed and that she would return in the morning, perhaps indicating that she expected to be away for the remainder of the night.
In France and Russia, people would also sleep for many hours of the day when winter came. Peasants in the Pskov region of Russia were reported to sleep for half of the year, taking turns to keep a fire lit to stay warm.
The practice of biphasic sleep may have evolved after ancient communities migrated from the equator to Europe, where longer nights may have interrupted sleep patterns. Researchers have found that traditional hunter-gatherer groups in Tanzania, Bolivia, and Namibia go to sleep about 3.5 hours after sunset and sleep for an average of 6.25 hours, with slightly longer sleep durations in the winter. These findings suggest that the sleep habits of pre-industrial humans may not have been that different from those of people in the industrialized world today.
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Humans slept on makeshift surfaces like piles of straw
Before the advent of modern mattresses, humans slept on makeshift surfaces such as piles of straw. As societies progressed, primitive mattresses were fashioned out of stuffed fabrics, and down was introduced. Bed frames have been around since ancient Egypt.
A team of archaeologists discovered a cave in South Africa that sheds light on how people slept during the Stone Age. They found grass bedding mixed with layers of ash believed to date back about 200,000 years. The ash may have served as a deterrent against ticks and other insects.
In addition to the type of sleeping surface, the sleep patterns of our ancestors also differed from those of modern times. For example, during the medieval period, people slept in two shifts: once in the evening and once in the morning, with a period of wakefulness in between. This practice, known as biphasic or segmented sleep, was common in northern Europe and eventually spread to most of Western civilization. During this time, people would use the time between their two sleeps for various activities such as prayer, reflection, chores, or visiting friends.
The amount of sleep our ancestors got also varied with the seasons, with people sleeping more in the winter and less in the summer. For example, a study of traditional peoples in Tanzania, Bolivia, and Namibia found that they slept for an average of 6.25 hours, with slightly longer sleep durations in the winter and shorter ones in the summer. Similarly, a study of pre-industrial societies found that sleep duration was about one hour longer in the winter than in the summer.
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Hunter-gatherers sleep for an average of 6.4 hours a day, with an extra hour in winter
It is unlikely that our ancestors slept for eight hours a night. A study by UCLA researchers found that three traditional hunter-gatherer groups in Tanzania, Bolivia, and Namibia slept for an average of 6.25 hours. The subjects slept less during the summer and more in winter, with an average of just under seven hours. They rarely took naps, and their sleep onset occurred between 2.5 and 4.4 hours after sunset.
Another study by researchers from Hunter College, Yale University, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of New Mexico examined the sleep patterns of the Hadza, San, and Tsimane people. The Hadza and San are modern-day hunter-gatherers, while the Tsimane are hunter-horticulturalists. The researchers found that these groups slept for an average of 6.4 hours, with an extra hour in the winter. They also had a tendency to wake up around sunrise, an hour before or after depending on the season and the group.
The findings from these studies challenge the idea that modern life has reduced our sleep time compared to our ancestors. Instead, it appears that the sleep habits of industrialized societies do not differ significantly from those of pre-industrial humans. The data suggests that the amount of sleep people get is influenced more by temperature than by the length of daylight hours.
In addition to sleep duration, the studies also revealed insights into the sleep patterns and habits of these hunter-gatherer groups. They tended to stay up late into the evening and rarely napped. Their sleep onset was irregular, but their offset time was very regular, and they woke up before sunrise. These findings indicate that while the total sleep time may have been shorter, the quality of sleep was likely adequate, as evidenced by the lack of chronic insomnia among these groups.
Overall, the research suggests that hunter-gatherers sleep for an average of 6.4 hours a day, with an extra hour in winter. This challenges conventional wisdom about the sleep habits of pre-industrial humans and provides valuable insights into the role of temperature and natural environments in regulating sleep.
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Frequently asked questions
No, they didn't sleep through the entire winter, but they did sleep more in winter than in summer.
On average, people slept 6 hours in the summer and just under 7 hours in the winter.
Yes, biphasic sleep, or sleeping in two shifts, was common during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
