Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, staying awake for an hour and then falling asleep again. Sounds strange? For our medieval ancestors, this was completely normal - and possibly even beneficial!
An astonishing discovery
Historian Roger Ekirch came across an interesting phenomenon during his research: in the Middle Ages and into the early modern period, people practised what is known as "biphasic sleep". They went to bed early, woke up after a few hours and used the nightly waking phase before falling into a "second sleep".
Widespread and deeply rooted
Ekirch found evidence of this sleeping habit in numerous historical sources - from court records to literature and medical texts. And not just in England, but worldwide! From France to Brazil, from Oman to Australia - biphasic sleep seemed to have been the predominant way of sleeping.
The nightly ""watch"" and its advantages
The time between the two sleep phases, often referred to as " watch", offered numerous advantages:
1. productivity: people used this time to do chores, crafts or even creative projects.
2. mental clarity: the nightly rest provided ideal conditions for prayer, meditation and deep reflection.
3. social bonding: It was a time for conversation and socialising, which strengthened social cohesion.
4. enhanced intimacy: For couples, this time provided an opportunity for undisturbed intimacy.
5. natural rhythm: biphasic sleep seems to be more in tune with our natural circadian rhythm.
Why did biphasic sleep disappear?
With the industrial revolution and the spread of artificial lighting, our sleeping habits changed dramatically. Longer "days" led to later bedtimes, while wake-up times remained the same. Sleep was compressed and the night waking phase gradually disappeared.
Worth a revival?
Recent studies suggest that biphasic sleep may be more natural and healthier for us. Some benefits that modern researchers discuss are:
- Improved sleep quality
- Increased alertness during the day
- Possible improvement in cognitive function
- Potential relief from sleep disorders
- The nocturnal waking phase may have served as a natural break to relieve stress and calm the mind.
The history of biphasic sleep is a reminder of how much our lifestyles are influenced by cultural and technological factors.