Before the advent of modern light, it was indeed common to have a brief period of being awake in the night. It's also interesting to note that, during winter,

Before the advent of modern light, it was indeed common to have a brief period of being awake in the night. It's also interesting to note that, during winter, it was not unheard of to basically hibernate, sleeping far more during the winter than the summer to preserve energy and food. Sauce: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/opinion/25robb.html http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/opinion/25robb.html