You know, you will have the Egyptians to thank for the fact of your sleeping today on a bedstead and a mattress after knowing the historical role of bedsteads that has its origins in ancient Egyptian civilization.
According to world history, the use of bedsteads by Egyptians goes back as far as 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. The Egyptian pharaohs began sleeping in beds raised from the ground after discovering that sleeping on higher platforms was more beneficial.
Over the years, archeologists have dug up ancient bed frames made of rich-looking, elaborately detailed pieces of metal, and reserved for use by the very rich and royalty.
Bedstead, a word to denote the wooden or metal-framed mattress-holding items, was first created by the British. There is evidence of the widespread use of bedsteads by the Romans, back when Britain was a province in their vast empire and known as Britannia.
The popularity of bed frames really began to take off in the 17th century, in Great Britain and Europe. They tended to be expensive, though, so only homes that could afford their price had them. Think of a movie showing that era and I am sure bedsteads equipped with four posts and thickly embroidered curtains to block out any light will come to your mind.
Modern day bed frames are usually made of wood or metal. The least expensive and most utilitarian are composed of just a frame, a few cross rails and a mattress while the most expensive and luxury ones are made of far more finer or exotic woods and metals that feature head and footboards, four posts and expensive silk or satin curtains, both overhead and on the sides.
The historical role of bedsteads in our lives is easy to see, now that we know a bit about them.
