ABSTRACT
For the working class, beds evolved from bundles of straw on the ground shared by whole families. Native American Indians used a woven mat to demarcate the sleeping area of their dwelling (Figure 5). Animal hides were used to provide warmth. Harsh climatic conditions, such as in the polar regions, required the Eskimo (Inuit) people to adopt specialized bedding made of animal fur and elevated from the ground to conserve body heat (Figure 6). In warmer regions, efforts to provide a sufficiently cool sleeping environment were necessary by optimizing ventilation and airflow (Figure 7). Bedding sometimes evolved that did not incorporate comfortable materials, for example, the rigid pillow used by some African tribes (Figure 8).
