Introduction

Abstract

The evolution of history of sleep medicine from the antiquity to modern time is a fascinating reading. Since the dawn of civilization, sleep has fascinated and inspired religious scholars, poets, philosophers, playwrights, artists, historians, and scientists as reflected in numerous mythological, poetic, dramatic, and scientific writings. Prior to the twentieth century, views about sleep were not based on solid scientific foundation. However, remarks by some of the astute physicians and scientists proved to be strikingly similar to the contemporary views about sleep. For example, the opinion of Paracelsus, a sixteenth-century physician, that 'natural' sleep lasted 6 h, and the suggestion that individuals should not sleep too much or too little are similar to modern thinking. The nineteenth-century physicians like Humboldt and Pfluger began to use principles of physiology and chemistry to explain sleep. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)