Miya Pearson
Sleep is an essential function that enables our bodies and minds to recharge. While this universal human experience may seem like a biological constant, research shows that our sleeping patterns haven't always been the same. In pre-industrial times, humans slept in two shifts, a practice known as biphasic sleep. They would sleep for around four hours, then wake up for a few hours to pray, socialise, or do chores, before going back to sleep. This practice was common during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance and started to taper off during the late 17th century. The invention of electric lighting in the 19th century further changed our sleeping patterns, as people were no longer limited by sunlight hours and could stay up later. Today, technology continues to impact our sleep habits, with blue light from screens interfering with our production of the sleep hormone melatonin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleeping patterns | Divided into two halves with a peaceful wake time in between |
| Average night sleep duration | 6.25 hours |
| Time of going to bed | Between 9 pm and 11 pm |
| Wake-up time | Between 1 am and 3 am |
| Time between first and second sleep | 1 to 2 hours |
| Duration of second sleep | Till morning |
| Factors influencing sleep patterns | Cultural shifts, migration, and technological advancements |
| Average sleep duration of modern humans | 7 to 9 hours |
| Factors affecting modern sleep patterns | Blue light from electronic devices |
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What You'll Learn
Humans slept in two shifts or cycles
Humans have not always slept in the same patterns as they do now. In modern times, we tend to sleep in one long, uninterrupted stretch, known as monophasic sleep. However, our ancestors often slept biphasically, dividing their sleep into two halves, with a first and second sleep.
The first documented observations of sleep began around 450 BC, when the ancient Greek physician Alcmaeon suggested that sleep was a period of unconsciousness caused by a lack of blood circulating from the heart to the brain. Six centuries later, the physician and philosopher Galen theorized that it was the brain, not the heart, that produced consciousness.
In the 8th century BC epic poem, the Odyssey, Homer refers to the 'first sleep', which is one of the earliest references to segmented sleep. Other references have been found in literature, diaries, court records, and anthological reports from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.
During the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, segmented sleep patterns were common. People would sleep for around four hours, then wake up for a few hours to pray, socialise, or do chores, before going back to sleep. This practice started in the urban upper-class groups of northern Europe and eventually spread to most of Western civilization.
In the 17th century, people in England typically went to bed between 9 pm and 11 pm. They would wake up a few hours later for one to two hours, before going back to sleep until morning.
The invention of electric lighting in the 19th century changed sleeping patterns. People started to sleep through the night in one long stretch, rather than in two shorter sleeps. The Industrial Revolution also played a role in this shift, as people needed to wake up early to go to work.
While monophasic sleep is now common, biphasic sleep patterns still exist in some cultures. For example, the Spanish word 'siesta' refers to a nap taken during the hottest hours of the day, a tradition found in various countries.
Research has also supported the idea that humans have a natural inclination towards biphasic sleep. In a 1992 sleep experiment, psychiatrist and scientist Thomas Wehr found that subjects slept for an average of eight hours, but in two separate cycles.
Additionally, studies of present-day hunter-gatherer communities have shown that they go to sleep about 3.5 hours after sunset, challenging the idea that staying awake late is solely due to modern technology. The average sleep duration was 6.25 hours, and subjects rarely woke up during the night.
Overall, while monophasic sleep is now the norm, biphasic sleep patterns were common in the past, and may be more natural for humans.
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They went to bed when it got dark and woke up with the sun
The concept of sleeping all night is a relatively new one. In the past, humans went to bed when it got dark and woke up with the sun. If they needed to wake up early, they would drink lots of water so that they would wake up to answer nature's call.
In 17th-century England, people typically went to bed between 9 pm and 11 pm. They would sleep for a few hours, then wake up for one to two hours, before going back to sleep until morning. This is known as biphasic sleep, and it was common during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. During the wakeful period, people would pray, reflect, socialise, or do chores.
The practice of biphasic sleep started to decline in the late 17th century, and with the invention of electric lighting in the 19th century, people's sleep patterns changed further. They were no longer limited by sunlight hours and could stay up, work, or socialise through the night. The concept of the working day also meant that people started to sleep in one long stretch through the night, rather than in two shorter sleeps.
However, biphasic sleep patterns haven't completely disappeared. The tradition of taking a nap during the hottest hours of the day, known as a "siesta", can be found in various countries.
Research has also challenged the idea that modern life has reduced our sleep time compared to our ancestors. A study of traditional hunter-gatherer groups in Tanzania, Bolivia, and Namibia found that they went to sleep about 3.5 hours after sunset and slept for an average of 6.25 hours, with less sleep in summer and more in winter.
Overall, while the invention of electric lighting has changed human sleep patterns, the concept of sleeping all night is still relatively new, and biphasic sleep patterns can still be found in some cultures today.
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They slept in groups for protection
Humans have not always slept in one long, uninterrupted stretch, as is common today. Instead, our ancestors often slept biphasically, dividing the night into two halves with a period of wakefulness in between. During this time, they would pray, reflect, socialise, or visit friends.
Sleeping in groups was also a common practice, with early humans gathering in groups of 15 to 20 around a campfire. By doing so, they could take turns staying awake and watching over the others, providing protection from predators and rival tribes. This social sleeping behaviour allowed early humans to get a better night's rest and may have given them an evolutionary advantage.
In modern times, the concept of segmented sleep has not entirely disappeared. For example, the Spanish word 'siesta' refers to a nap taken during the hottest hours of the day, a tradition found in various countries. Additionally, hints of social sleeping behaviour can still be seen in our sleep patterns, with lonely people experiencing more fragmented sleep than those who are more socially connected.
The evolution of sleeping patterns has been influenced by cultural shifts, migration, and technological advancements. The invention of electric lighting in the 19th century significantly altered sleep habits, allowing people to stay awake longer and disrupting the natural sleep cycle.
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They woke up in the middle of the night to pray or socialise
The concept of sleeping through the night is a relatively new one. In medieval societies, people generally slept for around four hours, woke up in the middle of the night to pray or socialise, and then went back to sleep. This practice of biphasic sleep is also known as segmented sleep.
In the 8th-century BC epic poem, the Odyssey, Homer refers to the 'first sleep', in what is one of the earliest references to segmented sleep. Other references have been found from across the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries in literature, diaries, court records, and anthological reports.
During the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, segmented sleep was a common practice. Citizens used their peaceful wake time in the middle of the night for prayer, reflection, sex, chores, reading by candlelight, and visiting friends.
In the 17th century, people in England typically went to bed between 9 pm and 11 pm. They would wake up a few hours later for one to two hours before returning to sleep, which would last until the morning.
The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century and the invention of electric lighting changed sleeping patterns. People started to sleep in one long stretch through the night as we do now, rather than in two shorter sleeps.
However, biphasic sleeping patterns have not completely disappeared. The Spanish word 'siesta' describes a nap taken during the hottest hours of the day, a tradition found in various countries.
Research also suggests that humans have a natural inclination towards biphasic sleep. A 1992 sleep experiment led by Thomas Wehr found that subjects slept for an average of eight hours a night in two separate cycles when placed in an environment that was dark for 14 hours a day.
Additionally, a study of traditional hunter-gatherer groups in Tanzania, Bolivia, and Namibia found that they went to sleep about 3.5 hours after sunset, challenging the idea that staying awake late is solely a result of modern technology. The average sleep duration was 6.25 hours, and the subjects rarely woke up during the night.
While the concept of segmented sleep may seem alien to us today, it was a common practice in the past, and it may have provided evolutionary advantages to early humans by allowing them to strengthen social ties and transmit cultural information.
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They slept less in summer and more in winter
The evolution of human sleeping patterns has been a topic of interest for researchers. While the concept of sleeping all night is relatively new, the history of human sleep patterns is quite intriguing.
In pre-industrial times, humans slept in two shifts, a practice known as biphasic sleep. This was a common practice during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, with references found in literature, diaries, court records, and anthological reports. People would go to bed between 9 pm and 11 pm, wake up a few hours later for one to two hours, and then go back to sleep until morning. This practice continued until the late 1600s, when the Industrial Revolution and the advent of electric lighting in the 19th century led to the concept of monophasic sleep, with people sleeping through the night.
However, the idea that modern life has reduced our sleep time compared to our ancestors may be a myth. Research on present-day hunter-gatherer communities in Tanzania, Bolivia, and Namibia found that they slept less in summer and more in winter. They went to sleep about 3.5 hours after sunset, challenging the idea that modern technology is solely responsible for later bedtimes. The average sleep duration was 6.25 hours, and they rarely woke up during the night.
The preference for cooler temperatures at night to prepare the body for sleep may also have influenced the variation in sleep duration between summer and winter. In modern times, most people strive for a fixed temperature, which may impact sleep control in humans. Morning light exposure has been found to be important in regulating mood and the brain's internal clock, and it is uniquely effective in treating depression.
Additionally, the social sleep hypothesis suggests that our ancestors slept in large groups, taking turns staying awake to watch over others. Sleeping socially allowed early humans to feel safer and get better sleep, fostering stronger relationships and improving sleep quality.
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Frequently asked questions
Our ancestors likely slept for a total of around 6.25 hours each night. This is based on a study of three traditional hunter-gatherer groups in Tanzania, Bolivia, and Namibia.
No, our ancestors likely slept in two shifts or "biphasic sleep". They would sleep for around four hours, then wake up for a few hours to pray, socialise, or do chores, before going back to sleep.
Our ancestors' sleep patterns were influenced by factors such as temperature variation, light exposure, and social connections. They also slept in large groups with at least one person on guard to protect against predators.
