Beds - The Evolution Of Sleep

By Joseph M. Jackson

There was a time when mankind did not sleep on beds. When we were being still cavemen, we would rest on treetops or even on the floor. Since then, we have evolved into very sophisticated creatures and consequently need an additional secure way of resting. Throughout the many years, the bed became one of the most helpful pieces of furniture in the house. Beds might be used for sleeping, resting, reading, sewing, and even eating!

The Initial Beds

Ten thousand years ago, inside the Neolithic period, the initial "beds" ended up being created. They were being possibly straw or hay on huge stones. In 3400 BC, the Egyptian pharaoh King Tot had a bed of ebony and gold, while the common individuals slept on palm bows stashed inside corner of their rooms. The earliest true luxury beds arrived along using the Roman Empire.

The Emperors, with all their wealth acquired beds decorated with gold, silver or bronze with mattresses stuffed with feathers, hay, wool, or reeds. The Romans were also the discoverers from the most-famous waterbed. They would lie back on a cradle of warm water until just about falling asleep to then be lifted onto an additional cradle with a mattress next to it, where they will be rocked asleep.

Modern Beds

The Dark Ages came and mattresses pretty much followed suit. But then the Renaissance arrived along and created bed making a bit additional advanced. They would stuff mattresses of coarse tick with pea shucks, straw, or feathers to then be covered by rich velvet, brocades and silk. While in the 16th and 17th centuries, mattresses ended up being placed upon a latticework of rope. That's how the expression "sleep tight" came around, for the tighter the rope, the much more comfy the bed could be.

While in the 18th century the iron bed structure was invented along with the use of cotton for stuffing mattresses. These two inventions together provided a nearly bug-free sleeping environment. At that time, bed bugs have been seen as entirely normal even within the most luxurious beds. In 1865 the first coil spring bed structure was patented.

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