Herbie Murray
Sleep is an essential part of human life, and as civilisations evolved, so did the way people rested. Before the days of comfortable mattresses and bed frames, humans slept on makeshift surfaces like piles of straw or grass bedding mixed with layers of ash, believed to deter ticks and other insects. The concept of sleeping all night is relatively new, with people in medieval societies sleeping for four hours, then waking up to pray or socialise before falling back asleep. The invention of electric lighting and the Industrial Revolution changed sleep patterns, with people adopting one long sleep through the night to accommodate the working day. Today, technology interferes with sleep habits, as blue light from electronic devices can disrupt the production of the sleep hormone, melatonin, contributing to the rise of insomnia. Understanding historical sleep patterns can provide insights into addressing modern sleep disorders and improving sleep quality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep patterns | Biphasic sleep (two shorter sleeps with a period of wakefulness in between) |
| Monophasic sleep (one long sleep) | |
| Sleep duration | 4 hours, followed by a few hours of wakefulness, then another 4 hours of sleep |
| 6.25 hours on average, with less sleep in summer and more in winter | |
| Sleep surfaces | Piles of straw |
| Stuffed fabrics | |
| Down | |
| Bed frames | Used by the ancient Egyptians |
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What You'll Learn
- In prehistory, humans slept on the floor in nests made of grass
- In the Middle Ages, biphasic sleep was common, with people waking in the night to socialise or pray
- In the 15th and 16th centuries, some slept in the evening, woke for several hours, then slept again
- In the Stone Age, humans slept on grass bedding with ash to deter insects
- In pre-industrial societies, people slept in sync with seasonal variations in temperature
In prehistory, humans slept on the floor in nests made of grass
Sleep has long been a topic of fascination for humans. While it is difficult to know the exact sleeping habits of prehistoric humans, we can make some educated guesses based on the environments they lived in. In regions with fewer trees, such as those inhabited by Neanderthals, they may have sought shelter in caves or constructed tents with nest-like bedding made of grass or other local materials.
As humans evolved in diverse environments, their sleeping arrangements likely varied. For example, tribes in tropical regions adapted to sleeping in hammocks and tree-dwelling structures, while those in mountainous areas, like the Tibetans, may have developed unique sleeping practices due to limited resources.
The concept of private bedrooms and dedicated sleeping spaces is a relatively modern invention. In medieval times, it was common for families to share beds, providing warmth and security. The working day also influenced sleep patterns, as people transitioned from two shorter "biphasic" sleeps to one longer sleep through the night.
Roosters, which became common alongside the rise of agriculture around 9,000 BC, served as natural alarm clocks. Later, in more industrialized times, people relied on "Knocker-Uppers" or factory whistles to wake up and start their day.
While we may not know the exact details of prehistoric sleeping habits, it is clear that sleep practices have evolved alongside human civilizations, influenced by factors such as environment, culture, and technological advancements.
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In the Middle Ages, biphasic sleep was common, with people waking in the night to socialise or pray
In the Middle Ages, people often slept communally, with families sharing beds to keep warm. It was also common for people to sleep in two shifts, or a practice known as biphasic sleep. This involved a "first sleep" and a "second sleep", with people waking up in the middle of the night for a few hours. During this time, people would socialise, pray, or perform domestic chores. The concept of a continuous sleep cycle throughout the night is, in fact, a relatively modern idea.
The practice of biphasic sleep, or "two sleeps", was first observed by historian Ekirch in various historical accounts. He found references to this phenomenon in Italian, French, and Latin, as well as documentation from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America. This suggests that biphasic sleep was not unique to the Middle Ages but may have been the dominant way of sleeping for millennia.
Ekirch's research revealed that people during the Middle Ages were creative with how they spent their time between sleeps. They would get up to use the bathroom, warm themselves by the fire, or socialise with their bed fellows. Prayer and reflection on dreams were also common activities, with people believing they were more susceptible to messages from the Gods or demonic possession during this time.
The disappearance of biphasic sleep can be attributed to several factors. The Industrial Revolution, with its focus on productivity and work schedules, encouraged the idea of a continuous night's sleep. The invention of electric lighting also played a role, as it enabled people to stay awake for longer periods. Additionally, the concept of a working day and the emergence of private bedrooms further contributed to the shift towards monophasic sleep, which is now considered the norm.
While some suggest that adopting a biphasic sleep schedule could be beneficial for stress reduction or improving health, Ekirch himself does not advocate for this. He states that the current uninterrupted sleep pattern is the ideal schedule for modern life, considering the improved sleeping conditions and reduced pests compared to ancient times.
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In the 15th and 16th centuries, some slept in the evening, woke for several hours, then slept again
Sleep patterns have changed significantly over time. Early humans typically slept in nests of grasses and other soft materials built close to the walls of caves. They slept in a curled-up foetal position, and would sleep and wake with the rising and setting of the sun.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, some people slept in the evening, woke for several hours, and then slept again. This was a common practice known as ''biphasic' sleep. During this time, people would use the quiet hours of the night for prayer, reflection, sex, chores, reading by candlelight, and visiting friends. This practice was embraced by Christians, who saw the night-time hours as an opportunity for the recital of psalms and confessions. Saint Benedict, in the 6th century AD, required monks to rise at midnight for these activities, and the idea spread throughout Europe.
The practice of biphasic sleep continued into the 17th century, with references to it tapering off during the late 1600s. By the 1920s, all references to biphasic sleep schedules had ceased. The shift towards monophasic sleep was influenced by the Industrial Revolution, which brought longer working days and the widespread use of artificial lighting. Artificial lighting lengthened the first sleep and shortened the second, and people became more conscious of the passage of time and the need for productivity.
Today, most people sleep in comfortable beds with soft bedding and pillows. However, insomnia and other sleep disorders are becoming increasingly common due to the impact of technology and blue light on our sleep habits.
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In the Stone Age, humans slept on grass bedding with ash to deter insects
Sleep has long been a topic of fascination for humans. The way we sleep and the amount of sleep we get have changed significantly over time. For instance, during the Middle Ages, people generally slept for around four hours, woke up for a few hours to pray or socialise, and then went back to sleep. This is known as biphasic or segmented sleep, which was also common during the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution.
However, with the advent of electricity and publicly lit streets, urban residents gradually shifted away from biphasic sleep. By the 1920s, references to segmented sleep schedules had disappeared. Today, most people in modern societies sleep for a single cycle through the night. This shift towards monophasic sleep has been influenced by the demands of work and the desire for efficiency.
Despite the extensive theoretical framework, there is limited experimental data on the sleep-wake behaviour of prehistoric humans. However, studies suggest that people living under Stone Age conditions experienced longer sleep times than those in modern societies. In a study simulating Stone Age conditions, participants had increased nocturnal time in bed and estimated sleep time.
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In pre-industrial societies, people slept in sync with seasonal variations in temperature
Sleep patterns have changed significantly since pre-industrial times, and seasonal variations in temperature played a significant role in shaping sleep habits.
In pre-industrial societies, segmented or biphasic sleep patterns were common, with people experiencing two major intervals of sleep bridged by periods of wakefulness. This sleep pattern has been observed in various pre-industrial cultures, including Western Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Latin America. The absence of artificial illumination meant that sleep schedules were influenced by natural light availability, with longer daylight hours in summer delaying sleep onset and longer nights in winter providing more opportunities for sleep.
For example, in the summer months, people might work or socialise later into the night, while in the winter, households remained active well after sunset, with chores and social visits extending the day. The use of primitive illuminants, such as rushlights and oil lamps, or even the natural light of the moon and stars, allowed people to extend their activities beyond sunset.
The concept of sleeping through the entire night is relatively modern, and in medieval societies, it was common to wake up in the middle of the night for a few hours to pray or socialise before returning to sleep. This practice, known as "first sleep" and "second sleep," was also observed by the French priest André Thevet, who noted that the Tupinamba Indians in Brazil in the 16th century would wake up after their first sleep to eat and then return to sleep. Similarly, residents of Muscat, the capital of Oman, in the early 19th century were said to retire early, often before 10 pm, and their first sleep was usually over before midnight.
The transition to consolidated sleep in industrial societies is attributed to technological advancements, such as artificial illumination, and shifting cultural attitudes during the Industrial Revolution. However, insomnia and sleep disorders are more prevalent in industrial societies, suggesting that aspects of pre-industrial sleep environments, such as natural light and temperature variations, may have beneficial effects on sleep quality.
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Frequently asked questions
In the past, humans slept on makeshift surfaces like piles of straw, grass bedding, and nests made of grass.
It is hard to say if they slept well, but they certainly had less mental stress overall. They also did not have artificial light, except for weak firelight, and they were more physically active, so they got tired more easily.
No, they did not. In medieval societies, people slept for around four hours, woke up for a few hours to pray or socialize, and then went back to sleep. This is known as biphasic sleep.
Monophasic sleep, or sleeping through the whole night, became common a few hundred years ago with the invention of electric lighting and the Industrial Revolution.
They would take this time to have sex, pray, eat, chat, and take medicine.
