Biphasic Sleep Pattern-Forgotten Habit of the Middle Ages

Professor Ekirch says the phenomenon of biphasic sleep in the past was much more common and normal than we thought.

Biphasic sleep is mentioned as an extremely normal situation in both historical documents and literary works of the period. For example, in Geoffrey Chaucer's Cantenbury Tales, one of the most famous works of medieval literature, and in William Baldwin's humor book, Attention to the Cat, written in 1561, biphasic sleep is described in the normal course of life.

But these examples are just the tip of the iceberg. Historians; they found thousands of references to the phenomenon of biphasic sleep in newspaper reports, letters, medical texts, plays, and diaries. So much so that this habit is mentioned even in famous ballads such as “Old Robin of Portingale”: “And when you wake up from your first sleep, you will drink something hot and the next time you wake up, your pain will go away…”

Biphasic sleep is seen in many societies from the beginning of the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution.

The first sleep is called "primo sonno" in Italy and "premier somme" in France. Apart from Europe, there is also some evidence of double sleep habits in the Middle East, Africa and South America. For example, in a text written in 1555 in what is now Brazil, it is told that the Tupinamba people ate their dinner after the first sleep. Because historical documents date back to ancient times, Professor Ekirch thinks we may have inherited the double sleep habit in early prehistoric humans.

What were people's sleeping patterns like?

Sleep patterns in the past were much different than they are today. People would usually sleep for an hour or two between 21:00 and 23:00 and then wake up again. In those days, people often slept in the same rooms. However, there were some social rules to prevent undesirable situations. For example, it was necessary not to touch each other and not to move too much while sleeping. On the other hand, the lying position had a certain order. The younger girls slept on one side of the bed, with the oldest girl close to the wall. After the girls, the parents were lined up, and next to them, the boys were lined up in order of age. Non-family members, on the other hand, slept beyond boys.

After sleeping for an hour or two, people would usually wake up spontaneously around 11:00. Most of the time, the time to stay awake at night was two or three hours. After this period, the second sleep would be started at around 01:00. Hours of awakening were called "watch times". During this time, ordinary work was done by moonlight or candlelight. Controlling animals, spinning wool, cutting wood, or sewing were among the mundane occupations. On the other hand, “watch time” was also a suitable time for religious activities. People used to pray or perform their worship at these times. The next stage of sleep was called "morning sleep". Morning sleep usually continued until sunrise. With the sunrise, people were starting to do their mundane work again.

How could the habit of biphasic sleep, which is so common and perfectly normal, be forgotten?

The Industrial Revolution, which took place in the 19th century, had a profound effect on people's sleep patterns, as it did in all areas. Thanks to breakthroughs in technology, artificial lighting has become increasingly common. This has radically changed people's natural body rhythms. Since most people started working in factories in cities, they still had to get up early, even if they did not sleep early. Therefore, with the Industrial Revolution, many workers lost their rest period. By the end of the 20th century, the habit of two-phase sleep had completely disappeared. The Industrial Revolution had changed not only the technologies we used, but also the biology of people. Because artificial lights prevented people from sleeping in the early hours. On the other hand, the development of a new technology with each passing day has also changed people's understanding of entertainment. People who went to the factories early in the morning wanted to set aside their evening hours for themselves. After a short while, a new sleep habit was formed not according to the biology of the body, but according to the order of life.

On the other hand, with the change of sleep patterns, new approaches to sleep such as blaming those who sleep too much or worrying about getting up early have been adopted. Despite all this, Professor Ekirch considers the 21st century to be the "golden age of sleep". Because, like before, no one worries about being killed or frozen in sleep anymore. One piece of sleep may not be a "natural" process for humanity. But we can sleep in ergonomic beds and safe houses. According to Ekirch; Although humanity avoids intimate nightly conversations, at least it sleeps more comfortably in terms of physical and security.