HIST 1285

FWS: Writing the Stars: The History of Astrology

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

Why have kings consulted astrologers before going to war? Why did Galileo construct horoscopes? This course traces astrology’s long history as a serious way of understanding the world. We will examine how, in the early modern period, the discipline – once among most important subjects taught at universities – was progressively marginalized from the realm of legitimate scientific knowledge. We will read primary sources including horoscopes, almanacs, and treatises, alongside modern historians who help us interpret them. A series of iterative writing assignments – including short primary-source analyses and book reviews – will provide the building blocks you need to write longer analytical essays. By the end of the course, you'll be able to turn a stack of complex historical sources into a clear, persuasive argument of your own.

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