Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

People have long been told by health experts that they should get eight hours of unbroken sleep each night. Nevertheless, many struggle on a nightly basis to fall asleep and stay asleep. Some scientists have begun to reconsider this issue and have concluded that the health experts have not been giving very good advice. In a study conducted in 2015, subjects were kept in darkness for 14 hours each night, this being an attempt to create conditions similar to natural wintertime conditions. Deprived of artificial light, most subjects' nightly sleep time eventually expanded and divided into two roughly equal shifts with 1 to 3 hours of wakefulness between. The results of this study suggest that human sleep is not naturally concentrated in one block. In fact, having two 'sleeps' a night may be the natural human condition. Historical data also support these findings. Historians have uncovered documents dating back to ancient times that refer to a 'first sleep' and 'second sleep.' Rather than view waking in the middle of the night as a nuisance, people appear to have welcomed it as natural, useful, and even enjoyable. By the end of the 1700s, street lighting in cities became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioning first and second sleep less and less. Most people seem to have adapted to consolidated sleep, even if they do not get a full eight hours each night. However, researchers argue that some modern sleep disorders such as insomnia may be the result of enforcing an unnatural sleep rhythm. In other words, waking in the middle of the night may not indicate an inability to sleep, but rather an attempt by the brain to sleep 'naturally.'

What social change contributed to the decline of segmented sleep patterns by the late 1700s?

Rationale

The spread of street lighting in cities contributed to the decline of segmented sleep patterns by the late 1700s.

The introduction of street lighting allowed for extended activities during the evening hours, reducing the reliance on segmented sleep that was common before. As people could engage in social and economic activities at night, their sleep patterns shifted towards a more continuous form of rest.

A (The introduction of coffeehouses) YOUR ANSWER

While coffeehouses became popular gathering places in the 18th century, contributing to social interaction and culture, they did not directly influence sleep patterns. Instead, they fostered conversation and socialization, which could actually extend awake hours rather than encourage a decline in segmented sleep.

C (The Industrial Revolution) YOUR ANSWER

The Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on work patterns and social structures, but it primarily occurred in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The shift from agrarian to industrial economies did result in changes in daily routines, yet it was the earlier introduction of street lighting that more directly affected people's sleeping habits by allowing them to stay awake longer.

D (The growth of print culture) YOUR ANSWER

The growth of print culture in the late 1700s indeed facilitated the spread of ideas and information. However, it did not have a direct effect on sleep patterns. While more reading material might have kept people engaged at night, it was the availability of light that physically enabled longer waking hours, thereby affecting sleep directly.

Conclusion

The decline of segmented sleep patterns by the late 1700s was primarily driven by the spread of street lighting in cities, which enabled people to engage in nighttime activities. While other factors like coffeehouses, the Industrial Revolution, and print culture played roles in societal change, it was the practical enhancement of evening illumination that most significantly altered sleep behaviors, paving the way for modern sleeping habits.

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