Erasmus and Sleep: A Case Study for the History of Sleep in the Early Modern Period

Erasmus of Rotterdam viewed sleep as playing a fundamental role in the functioning of the intellect and in the preservation of health. As a young man, Erasmus found the vigils imposed in the middle of the night in the monastery of the Austin Canons in Steyn too heavy a burden for him, and he mention...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Sixteenth century journal Vol. 54; no. 3-4; pp. 355 - 379
Main Author Crousaz, Karine
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chicago University of Chicago Press 01.09.2023
Subjects
Clergy
Early modern period
Erasmus, Desiderius (1466?-1536)
Humanism
Lifestyles
Sleep
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Summary:Erasmus of Rotterdam viewed sleep as playing a fundamental role in the functioning of the intellect and in the preservation of health. As a young man, Erasmus found the vigils imposed in the middle of the night in the monastery of the Austin Canons in Steyn too heavy a burden for him, and he mentioned them regularly among the reasons why he was not made for the monastic life. With his famous colloquy Diluculum, however, Erasmus played a part in imposing on the modern West the idea that one needs to rise early to accomplish complex intellectual work. As a corollary, but one that is much less known than his advice in the Diluculum, Erasmus strictly avoided night work and advised his readers to do the same.
ISSN:0361-0160
2326-0726
DOI:10.1086/727953