14 Class Meetings
Prerequisites: This course is required for graduation in the Diploma Module. It can be taken in any order after the completion of NAT04.
Price: $650

This course will cover the history of western astrology from its inception in the Old Babylonian period to the 21st century. You will not learn astrological technique in this course. Instead, we'll be exploring the philosophical, cultural and historical developments that helped to shape astrology and its place in the world.

Class Meeting 1: Mesopotamian Astrology

We start our investigation at the beginning of recorded written history in the west, where astrology has its earliest roots. We'll examine the contributions of the Babylonians, as well as those of other Mesopotamian civilizations, to astrology. We'll also discuss our definitions from last week in the context of Mesopotamian astrology.

Class Meeting 2: Egyptian Contributions

By the 3rd century BC, we encounter the historical imprint of astrology in Hellenized Egypt. This week we examine the contributions of indigenous Egypt to astrology, as well as the transmission of Babylonian astrological concepts into the Hellenistic world.

Class Meeting 3: Philosophical Influences

This week we dig deeply into the philosophical foundations of Hellenistic astrology. To what extent does the astrology of the Hellenistic and Roman periods reflect the ideas of classical philosophers? What religious and philosophical concepts of the Hellenistic world helped to shape the development and popularization of astrology?

Class Meeting 4: Hellenistic Astrology

What we call 'traditional' astrology today is rooted in the techniques and innovations of two pivotal historical periods in astrology. The 1st of these occurs in Egypt after the conquest of Alexander. This week, we'll examine some of the astrologers practicing Hellenistic astrology and the techniques that form the basis of this type of astrology.

Class Meeting 5: Rome and Astral Religions

Two important developments affect the spread and popularity of astrology in Rome as well as set up future opposition to it from the Church. The 1st is a religious development, the second a political one. This week we look at the political applications of astrology and the importation of astral religions from the east. This will set up the discussion for next week.

Class Meeting 6: Early Christianity and Astrology

Today, fundamentalist Christians are taught that astrology is wicked. The position of the early Christian Church was far more complicated. We'll examine some of the religious, political and philosophical issues confronting the Church with regard to astrology and look at how they wrestled with them.

Class Meeting 7: The Islamic World

The second great historical period of technical innovation in astrology occurs during the beginning of Islam. Much of what we know today as traditional astrology, comes from the writers of this period. Islamic astrologers also had a large impact on the transmission of astrology to the Christianized Latin west. It is to a large extent thanks to them that we know anything today about Hellenistic astrology.

Class Meeting 8: The Latin West

This week we pick up on the Islamic translation movement of the 12th century and examine its impact on the Latin western world. What new philosophical and religious problems were Church authorities faced with regard to astrology? What role did the Universities have to play in the teaching of astrology?

Class Meeting 9: The Renaissance

Astrology has another resurgence during the Renaissance. This week we examine the role of printing, the reformation, and the second wave of classical influences on the development and spread of astrology. In particular, we'll look at the influence of magical and alchemical ideas on the study and acceptance of astrology.

Class Meeting 10: The Enlightenment

It is often stated that astrology died with the discovery of the heliocentric solar system and with the advent of scientific thought. Did science kill astrology? Was the science of the 17th century incompatible with the magical-religious ideas of astrology?

Class Meeting 11: Astrology in the 19th and 20th centuries

This week we look at the transition from traditional astrology to what is known as 'modern' astrology. We'll examine the role of the Theosophical movement, the discovery of new astronomical bodies, and the marriage of astrology with the psychological movements of the 20th century.

Class Meeting 12: Writing an Historical Paper

The last three weeks of the course will be devoted to writing. You'll be given writing guidelines and ideas for generating your own paper topics. We'll go over how the rules for citing sources and how to structure your writing in a clear and effective way. We'll also cover tips for doing research.

Class Meeting 13: Final Paper Topics

Today you'll select your final paper topics if you haven't already. You'll have a chance to discuss your ideas and directions for research.

Class Meeting 14: Final Paper Progress

This final week, we discuss the progress and any problems encountered researching your final paper. We will also discuss potential sources for each topic.

Required materials:

The following required materials are available through the IAA online shopping areas:

• History of Western Astrology: The Medieval and Modern Worlds, by Nicholas Campion
• The Dawn of Astrology: A Cultural History of Western Astrology (The Ancient and Classical Worlds), by Nicholas Campion

Suggested/supplemental materials:

The following suggested and supplementary materials are available through the IAA online shopping areas:

• A History of Horoscopic Astrology, by James Herschel Holden
• History of Western Astrology , by Jim Tester