Response to: Reflections on 'Have we lost sleep?'

Area of Science:

• History of Medicine
• Sleep Studies
• Social History

Background:

• The nature of pre-industrial sleep in Europe is a subject of ongoing scholarly debate.
• Professor Ekirch's work has been influential in shaping discussions on segmented sleep.
• The author's previous publication in *Medical History* (2023) addressed Ekirch's original research from 2001.

Purpose of the Study:

• To respond to critiques regarding the interpretation of historical sleep evidence.
• To advocate for a nuanced understanding of pre-industrial sleep, avoiding broad generalizations.
• To highlight the limitations of amassing numerous brief references without in-depth analysis.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of historical sources and scholarly interpretations of pre-industrial sleep.
• Contextualization of evidence to challenge seemingly unambiguous quotations.
• Engagement with peer review feedback to refine arguments.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests that pre-industrial sleep patterns were diverse and culturally influenced.
• The extent, duration, and cultural attitudes towards night awakenings varied significantly.
• Overly broad statements about segmented sleep in pre-industrial Europe are not supported by nuanced analysis.

Conclusions:

• The study of segmented sleep in early modern Europe remains an open and complex area of research.
• A cautious approach, acknowledging uncertainty and diversity, is necessary when interpreting historical sleep data.
• Further research should prioritize in-depth analysis over the accumulation of fragmented evidence.