Historically, astrology was used by early civilizations to predict the future and to provide individuals with insight on their personality traits by following the movement of planets and stars. Modern astrology reflects the influence of the Hellenistic approach to astrology. This approach features twelve zodiac signs, each having its own set of characteristics that affect those born under that sign. While the science behind astrology is complex, basic understanding of its concepts may allow people to learn more about themselves and those around them. 

 

Astrology In Early Civilizations 

 

Although the Greeks are credited with the creation of the astrology system that would turn into what we study today, the Babylonians were the first to have an organized system of astrology.  The Greeks discovered pieces that would create astrology during The conquests of Alexander the Great. They found that other cultures, such as those in: Persia, Central Asia, Babylon, and Syria, had already developed some cosmological schemes. They were able to transfer these ideas into written Greek language, thus laying the foundations of the system of widespread astrology. The Greeks connected astronomy and astrology to the Gods. The word “planet,” as an example, derives from the Greek language It was originally developed to help the affairs of the state and to bring peace during times of chaos, but adopted new forms in various civilizations that would create the system of astrology we use today. 

 

The Babylonians introduced the concept of zodiacs to astrology. The ‘Zodiac’ is, “the sequence of constellations along which the sun and the planets appear to move in their passage through the heavens” (History of Astrology). Originally finding 13 zodiacs, they decided to only include 12 signs, so that it would match with their calendar of 12 lunar cycles per year. They took 12 constellations, labeling them with a name and animal symbol, which we now know as the 12 zodiac signs. They too linked these constellations with the Gods. 

 

After the fall of the Roman Empire, astrology disappeared for around 500 years. When it picked back up in the Middle Ages, it began to be practiced by a wider range of people of different professions. It was in Europe that the house system used in modern astrology was created. Despite several bumps in the road, astrology eventually came to flourish indefinitely. 

 

 

These advances allowed other civilizations in China, India, and even the Mayans to develop their own systems of astrology. While many of its variations have fallen off, there are still several astrology systems from these early civilizations that are studied alongside the modern Western astrology we are most familiar with. While the expansion of technology and research on the topic of astrology has diminished the “science” aspect of astrology (many refer to astrology as ‘pseudoscience’ now), it continues to thrive today. Advances in technology allow the dissemination of astrology to spread farther and faster and has made the laborious task of making charts by hand much more efficient. With the infinite amount of resources available on astrology through the internet, just about anyone can begin to independently study this field.